Vulnerability to climate change in smallholder farming households: a case study of Eritrea

Abstract

Climate change is adversely affecting smallholder farming households in Eritrea mainly due to the dependence their livelihood to the climate-regulated activity. This study examines the degree of vulnerability of smallholder farming households in Eritrea using a Vulnerability Livelihood Index (VLI). Major components of vulnerability to climate change were identified as Exposure, Sensitivity and Adaptive Capacity. More than 88% of the farming households were found to be vulnerable or highly vulnerable to climate change as a result of the combined effect of their exposure to external factors, sensitivity to internal factors, and lower adaptive capacity. Female-headed households and those belonging to disadvantaged low-income groups were more vulnerable and in need of being preferentially targeted by policy measures. Improving human resource development by focusing on education and health, and enhancing adaptive capacity by focusing on access to food and water can develop the resilience of the farming households.