Abstract:
Climate variability is recognized as one of the greatest challenges of our world today. It is
predicted to have adverse consequences on the world’s ecosystems, economies and societies. The
severity of adverse effects varies across countries, regions, and socio-demographic groups due
to differences in exposures, sensitivities and adaptive capacities. The thesis was conducted on
Women’s Adaptation strategy to Climate Variability in Gemechis District, West Hararghe Zone,
Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to identify and assess major
climate variability adaptation strategy of women. To achieve the objectives set, appropriate data
was collected from three sample Kebeles, which were selected through purposive sampling
method based on their agro-ecological conditions and 399 women headed households were
selected from the three sample Kebeles. The study was used both qualitative and quantitative
types of data that were generated from both primary and secondary sources of data through
mixed research design. Primary data were collected through focus group discussion, household
survey, key informant interview and field observation. Secondary data were collected from
different research, journal articles, books and office records. The collected qualitative data were
analyzed using content and discourse analyses whilst quantitative data were analyzed using
descriptive and inferential analyses. To identify the factors influencing women’s decisions to
adapt to climate change in the study area, multinomial logistics regression model and Chi
square test were applied. The results of the multinomial logistic regression model showed that
the decision to choose a certain adaptation strategy to climate variability depends on sex of the
household head, age of the household head, family size, and education level of the household
head, access to climate information and frequency of extension visits. For example, result of this
study depicted that a one percent increase in the age level of women results in a 0.02% increase
in the probability of adapting soil and water conservation, a 0.04% increase in afforestation, a
3.41% increase in short season varieties and a 0.1% increase in mixed farming. The results also
showed that if woman farmer perceives there is a change in climate then her probability of
adapting soil and water conservation increased by about 7.41%, short season varieties increases
by about 1.76%, water harvesting increases by about 9.167% and mixed farming practices
increases by about 6.31% as compared to all adaptation options. Based on the findings the
following recommendations are forwarded: provision of climate information for farmers,
provision of extension services, introduce new agricultural technologies and inputs, diversifying
source of income and empowering women.
