―Evaluation of Community Awareness and Knowledge of Climate Change Impacts and Its Adaptive Strategies in Liben Chukala District, East Shewa Zone, Ethiopia‖

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.