IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON CROP PRODUCTION AND FOOD SECURITY IN DEBARK WOREDA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Agriculture is the most susceptible sector to climate change-induced hazards. Therefore, this study analyzed the susceptibility of agriculture to climate change in three purposively selected agro-ecological area of Debark Woreda to assess the impact of climate variability on food security in the study area. To achieve this objective, essential information was gathered from sample kebeles based on mixed research design. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently. The quantitative data includes long-term climatic data (2008-2017) and crop outputs for 10 years (2008-2017) were used for analysis. Based on the relevant information gathered, the status of food insecurity is assessed by their income and food insecurity indicators in the household level. The result of the analysis shows that the rainfall pattern is highly concentrated in the three months of the summer season. The spring and autumn rains were also found to be determinant factors to agricultural productivity. Hence, the overall results of the study clearly indicates that both Rainfall seasonal variability and temperature fluctuation was influencing agricultural productivity and food insecurity. Therefore, government officials such as Agricultural and Natural resource protection office and meteorological station offices should be established well organized weather forecasting and disseminate information to users