Abstract:
The major purpose of this study is to assess the impacts of climate variability and change on crop
production in Dabat Woreda of North Gondar zone, Amhara Region. To achieve the objectives the
researcher used a descriptive survey design; both qualitative and quantitative approach, and
appropriate data has been collected from primary and secondary sources. Close-ended and openended
questions,
key
informant
interviews,
Meteorological
data,
and
Field
Observation
were
used
to
acquire
the
data.
From
26
total
rural
kebeles
of
the
Woreda,
3
kebeles
were
purposely
selected
by
agro
ecological
zone
and
278
household
heads
were
selected
using
a
simple
random
sampling
method
from
the
three
sample
kebeles.
The
quantitative
data
have
been
analyzed
and
summarized
by
using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, and mean; some of them were
analyzed by using the statistical package (SPSS) with simple linear regression (SLR) and analysis
of variance (ANOVA), and a line graph, table, and chart by excel 2007. Interview and observation
were analyzed through paragraphs because such data are difficult to enumerate. The major finding
of the study shows that the changing patterns of rainfall, increasing temperatures, recurring
droughts, and land degradation have terrible impacts on the poor people whose survival depends
on rain-fed agriculture. The meteorology data revealed that the decrease amount of rainfall and
annual temperature in the study areas have been increasing for the last thirty years. The main
impact of climate variability and change is that crop yield has generally decreased from year to
year. Although farmers try to use different adaptive strategies, there are problems of access to
water, agricultural land, agricultural inputs, information on agricultural adaptation strategies,
and decision power. Therefore; it is suggested to promote the use of improved crop and early
maturing seeds that can resist the impact of climate variability & change. Introduce irrigation
technologies to reduce the dependency of rain-fed agriculture and to secure the availability of
food. Promoting reforestation, soil conservation, and mixed agriculture through improved crop
and livestock to diversify the livelihood of the farmers to resist climate variability and change risk.
To sustain agricultural growth, the government should play a key role by creating awareness on
how to adapt to climate variability and change.
