Abstract:
Climate change poses significant challenges globally, and its impacts are particularly
severe in agrarian countries like Ethiopia, where subsistence farming is predominant.
This study focuses on evaluation of community awareness and knowledge of climate
change impacts and its adaptive strategies in Liben Chukala district. Utilizing a multi
stage sampling technique, data were collected from 167 households, determined by the
Cochran formula. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical
methods, including frequency analysis, percentages, means, and one-sample t-tests, with
SPSS version 22. The findings reveal that 64.1% of farmers are aware of climate change
impacts, while 35.9% lack a conceptual understanding of the issue. The study highlights
significant climate-related impacts on livelihoods, including increased exposure to pests
and diseases, drought, food insecurity, and declines in both crop and livestock
productivity. To cope with these adverse effects, respondents reported various strategies
such as selling firewood and charcoal, seeking daily labor, reducing meal size and
frequency, seasonal migration, selling assets, and borrowing money. However, farmers
face multiple barriers to effective adaptation, including limited financial resources,
insufficient farmland, lack of technical knowledge, inadequate weather information, and
insufficient irrigation facilities. Therefore, it is recommended that the district agricultural
office enhance irrigation infrastructure, including the provision of water pumps, to
support farmers' adaptive capacities. Additionally, development institutions should
streamline access to credit for farmers to acquire productive technologies and essential
agricultural inputs, thereby improving resilience to climate change.
