Smallholder farmers vulnerability to climate change in Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

Smallholder farmers in the Tigray region are highly vulnerable to climate change-induced shocks due to their heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture. This study aims to assess the multidimensional livelihood vulnerability of smallholder farmers in the Tigray region to climate change using the framework provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The study used a mixed methods research design composed of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Data were collected from 120 randomly selected households, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). The findings reveal that more than 30% of the Atsbi Womberta district and 28% of the Tahtay Koraro district are classified as highly vulnerable to climate change. In Atsbi, the primary contributing factor to the High Vulnerability Index (HVI) is exposure, accounting for approximately 37% (mean value: 0.579 ± 0.111), followed by adaptive capacity at 33% (0.523 ± 0.104), and sensitivity at 30% (0.467 ± 0.160). Similarly, in Tahtay Koraro, exposure is the dominant contributing factor, comprising 38% (mean value: 0.618 ± 0.176), followed by low adaptive capacity at 32% (0.553 ± 0.113), and sensitivity at 30% (0.524 ± 0.167). Both districts indicate low adaptive capacity and high exposure to climate variabilities. To address the high vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate change in the Tigray region, policymakers must prioritize disaster risk management strategies. These strategies should aim to reduce exposure to climate variabilities and strengthen the adaptive capacity of farming households.

Keywords

• Adaptive capacity
• climate change
• exposure
• sensitivity
• vulnerability indices