An appraisal on the determinants of adaptation responses to the impacts of climate variability on coffee Production: Implication to household food security in Nensebo Woreda, Ethiopia

Abstract

Climate change and variability already had and will continue to harm coffee production throughout the world. Between 80% and 90% of the world’s coffee is produced by smallholder farmers who depend on nature. This study examines the determinants of climate variability adaptation response in coffee production and its implication for household food security in Nensebo Woreda, Ethiopia. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from randomly selected 181 coffee grower farmers as well as purposively selected key informants, and focus group discussion participants. Arial gridded dikadal meteorological data were also used. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis, descriptive statistics, and econometric analysis methods. The study reveals that in the study area monthly, seasonal, and annual minimum and maximum temperature has been increasing over the last three decades. Rainfall has been erratic both in amount and timing. Multinomial logit analysis showed that age, farm experience, farm size, family size, average days spent on non-farm and off-farm activities, DA contact, climate change information, and income from coffee were the factors that significantly influenced adaptation responses to climate variability. The study also revealed the presence of a varying degrees of household food insecurity. Therefore, to enhance the adaptive capacity of coffee grower farmers, it is necessary to provide area specific and precise weather forecast information. Likewise, the study shows that building the adaptive capacity of coffee grower farmers requires expanding access to credit and savings services as well as market information. Doing all of these requires extensive and continuous awareness creation intervention about the actual and potential effects of climate variability on coffee production.

Keywords

• Climate variability
• Adaptation strategies
• Coffee production
• Food security, weather forecasting