Assessing effects of rainfall on farming activities as the predictor of climate changes in Sadi Chanka District of Kellem Wolega, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was carried out in Sadi Chanka District (Ethiopia) to assess effects of rainfall on farming activities as the predictor of climate change. This study used a mixed approach. Purposive sampling technique was used to select representative kebeles. Elkofale, Keto Shan and Komba were chosen and 128 farmers from each kebeles were involved in a survey. A simple random sampling technique was used to select representative farmers of the study area. In this study, interview, focus group discussion, questionnaires and site observation were employed as data collection tools. SPSS Version 20 was used for data analysis. The majority of the respondent farmers revealed that their productivity status had fluctuated patterns due to untimely rainfall and scarcity of water occasionally. The present study confirmed that choices of agricultural activities by farmers were linked with the change in climate and irregular distribution of rainfall patterns. The ecology of farmland in Sadi Chanka has been degraded critically. This work had also clearly demonstrated the existence of farmers' choices of agricultural activities, including coffee production, poultry production and production of fruits like mango and papaya. Community as whole and concerned governmental sectors should be alerted on participatory ecological management and climate change mitigation. HIGHLIGHTS Effects of fluctuated rainfall pattern.; Yields and major productivity items of farmers.; Farmers' choices for climate change adaptation.; Forecasting the future fate of climate change.; Climate change mitigation measures.;

Keywords

• agriculture
• climate change
• farmers
• rainfall
• yields