AGROECOLOGY BASEDA DAPTIVE CAPACITY OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS TO CLIMATE VARIABILITY; THE CASE OF CHILGA DISTRICT, CENTERAL GONDAR ZONE, AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This research was aimed at examining adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers to climate variability with special reference to dwellers around Chilga district. The study has adopted an approach known as composite index that consists of various indicators of adaptive capacity following the sustainable livelihoods framework and captured household’s adaptive capacity relative to other households. Factor analysis was also accomplished to identify key adaptive capacity indicator. Perception of rural households on climate variability was also measured employing median as measure of central tendency and Inter Quartile Range as measure of dispersion. In view of farmer’s perception on climate variability, most of them believed with the strong agreement that climate change leads to crop yield reduction, negatively affects livelihood and is a cause for prevalence of local stress .Majority of respondents also reached an agreement that all other harmful effects emphasized over were effects of climate variability and were affecting their livelihood as well. Despite minor disparity of adaptive capacity among 118 rural households under study, primary and secondary data source were used, the finding verified that farm households living in midland and lowland have no statistically significant (p>0.05) adaptive capacity. Employing factor analysis, only five (economic resource, social capital, technology, human capital and infrastructure) out of the total 6 considered indicators were identified as key adaptive capacity indicators that influence adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers to climate variability. Hence, the findings of the research under study has recommended the enhancement of adaptive capacity of rural households through design and implementing diversified livelihood alternatives, capacity building training for improved agricultural technology, better income generation schemes, enhancement of infrastructural services , make credit services and technology available and accessible to smallholder farmers targeting households without disparity between different agro ecological zones.