Abstract:
This study examines the effects of climate variability on teff yield and the adaptation strategies
employed by farmers in the Adea district of Ethiopia. The study utilized a combination of
purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Three rural kebeles were selected
purposively from the midland agro-ecology, and a total of 146 teff farmer respondents were
randomly selected using a lottery method. To gather the necessary data, both primary and
secondary sources were utilized. Historical climate data (1981-2021) of the Adea district were
obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) power data access,
while thirteen years of teff yield data (2009-2021) were obtained from the Adea district
Agriculture and Rural Development Office. Surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions
were conducted with teff farmers to gather information on their adaptation strategies in
response to climate variability. The collected data were analyzed using qualitative and
quantitative methods. The study analyzed climate variability and trends in the Adea district,
focusing on annual, seasonal, and monthly temperatures and rainfall. The results indicated a
steady increase and decrease in temperature during the study period, with significant increasing
trends observed in kiremt seasonal rainfall. The annual minimum temperature also showed a
significant increasing trend (P<0.05) by a factor of 0.018. The total annual rainfall exhibited
significant variability (P<0.01) over the 41 years, with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 25.59%
and a standard deviation (SD) of 287.78 mm. The driest year on record was in 2002, while the
wettest year occurred in 2020. The result also revealed a prevalence of meteorological drought
conditions with 58.54% of the months experiencing drought over the 41 years based on the
Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) analysis. Multiple regression analysis showed that
94.3% of the variation in teff productivity was explained by climate variables. The analysis
indicated that climate variables have a statistically significant influence on teff productivity.
Farmers in the study area have implemented a range of adaptation strategies to mitigate the
adverse effects of climate variability. These strategies include using improved crop varieties,
adjusting planting dates, diversifying crops, implementing small-scale irrigation and water
harvesting methods, cultivating drought-resistant crops, and practicing soil and water
conservation techniques. The study highlights the importance of considering socio-economic,
institutional, and environmental factors in implementing effective climate risk management
strategies for teff farming in the region. It is imperative to implement climate risk management
strategies that consider location-specific socioeconomic factors to combat the potential effects
of climate variability on teff yield.
