Impacts of adaptation to climate change on farmers’ food security and level of sesame production in Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract The existence of multiple stresses and poor adaptive capacity make Africa most susceptible to climate change. In Ethiopia the potential adverse effects of climate change on the agricultural sector, the main stay of the country’s economy, are major concerns. To ensure food security, reducing the vulnerability of agricultural systems through different feasible adaptation strategies is one of the policy options in response to climate change impact This study is a first of its kind in examining the relative effectiveness of various adaptation strategies in ensuring farmers’ food security and enhancing level of sesame production in rural area of Western Ethiopia. In addition to data obtained from meteorological stations, cross-sectional data were collected interviewing 400 farm households. Descriptive statistics, two-stage least square (2SLS) and double-hurdle (D-H) models were used to analyze the data. The results of the study indicate that households are adapting using various strategies to the looming climate change in the area. The study also indicated that, though sesame production was negatively impacted by the climate hazards, smallholders have continued its production at minimum level due mainly to its high value crop character. 2SLS estimation results revealed that rainfall and temperature variability have negative impact on household’s food security. Moreover, the result indicates effectiveness of climate adaptation strategies namely agronomic practices, irrigation and soil and water conservation in reducing climatic risks and ensuring household food security. The result also implicitly indicated that farmers continued to adapt sesame production under risk climate and it is contributing to farmers’ food security. Further, the result revealed that climate change adaptation strategies have positively impacted the level of sesame production. Consequently, policy that augments households’ climate awareness and promotes adaptation decision and strategies could help reducing risks pertaining to climate and thereby improves farmers’ food security status and production of high value export potential crop—sesame.

Keywords

• Climate change
• Adaptation
• Impact
• Food security
• Sesame
• Two-stage least square