MAJOR PRACTICES AND DETERMINANTS OF CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE BY SMALLHOLDING FARMERS: A CASE OF META WOREDA OF EAST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Climate Smart Agriculture is one of the solutions that simultaneously address the issues of food security, climate change and agricultural productivity. The general objective of the study was to identify major climate smart agriculture practices and factors that determine farmers’ choice of adaptation measures to climate change. For this study, Primary data was collected from 326 randomly selected household heads through structured questionnaires which were supplemented by 3 focus group discussion with 30 participants, 3 key informant interview and field observations in 3 selected kebeles. Secondary data from different sources were also included in the study. Both descriptive statistics and Multinomial Logit model were employed to assess the major practice of CSA and factors influencing farmers’ decision on the choice of CSA practices. The survey result shows that there are different CSA practices implemented including changes in planting date; implementation of soil and water conservation techniques; shifts in livestock rearing from cattle to small ruminant; growing drought tolerant crops; preparation and application of compost; oxen fattening using cut and carry methods and intercropping pulses with cereals. According to the Multinomial Logit model analysis, farmers implemented mixed farming with Soil and Water Conservations account for 61% that are followed with those who use crop production with Soil and Water Conservation, mixed farming and crop production only account for 21%, 9% and 9% respectively. Furthermore, the major determinants factors that affect significantly the choices of CSA practices were identified as sex, age, family size, education level, land holding. Livestock holdings, access to climate information, extension service and access to credit. Therefore, CSA is a new approach recently introduced by FAO and need to be scale up through proper institutional supports, community mobilization towards practicing suitable and appropriate technologies, and enhancing research on use of new crop varieties and livestock breads suited with different agro-ecology.