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Communities’ Livelihood Vulnerability to Climate Variability in Ethiopia

Author

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  • Misganaw Teshager Abeje

    (The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
    Institute of Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Studies, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar 6000, Ethiopia)

  • Atsushi Tsunekawa

    (Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan)

  • Nigussie Haregeweyn

    (International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan)

  • Zerihun Nigussie

    (Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan
    College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 5501, Ethiopia)

  • Enyew Adgo

    (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 5501, Ethiopia)

  • Zemen Ayalew

    (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 5501, Ethiopia)

  • Mitsuru Tsubo

    (Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan)

  • Asres Elias

    (Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori 680-8550, Japan)

  • Daregot Berihun

    (College of Business and Economics, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar 6000, Ethiopia)

  • Amy Quandt

    (Department of Geography, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA)

  • Mulatu Liyew Berihun

    (The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
    Faculty of Civil and Water Resource Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 26, Bahir Dar 6000, Ethiopia)

  • Tsugiyuki Masunaga

    (Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, Shimane Matsue 690-0823, Japan)

Abstract

Ethiopia has experienced more than 10 major drought episodes since the 1970s. Evidence has shown that climate change exacerbates the situation and presents a daunting challenge to predominantly rain-fed agricultural livelihoods. The aim of this study was to analyze the extent and sources of smallholder famers’ livelihood vulnerability to climate change/variability in the Upper Blue Nile basin. We conducted a household survey ( n = 391) across three distinct agroecological communities and a formative composite index of livelihood vulnerability (LVI) was constructed. The Mann–Kendall test and the standard precipitation index (SPI) were employed to analyze trends of rainfall, temperature, and drought prevalence for the period from 1982 to 2016. The communities across watersheds showed a relative difference in the overall livelihood vulnerability index. Aba Gerima (midland) was found to be more vulnerable, with a score of 0.37, while Guder (highland) had a relatively lower LVI with a 0.34 index score. Given similar exposure to climate variability and drought episodes, communities’ livelihood vulnerability was mainly attributed to their low adaptive capacity and higher sensitivity indicators. Adaptive capacity was largely constrained by a lack of participation in community-based organizations and a lack of income diversification. This study will have practical implications for policy development in heterogeneous agroecological regions for sustainable livelihood development and climate change adaptation programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Misganaw Teshager Abeje & Atsushi Tsunekawa & Nigussie Haregeweyn & Zerihun Nigussie & Enyew Adgo & Zemen Ayalew & Mitsuru Tsubo & Asres Elias & Daregot Berihun & Amy Quandt & Mulatu Liyew Berihun & T, 2019. "Communities’ Livelihood Vulnerability to Climate Variability in Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-22, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:22:p:6302-:d:285344
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Liboster Mwadzingeni & Raymond Mugandani & Paramu L. Mafongoya, 2021. "Assessing Vulnerability to Climate Change in Smallholder Irrigation Schemes of Zimbabwe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Tsega Adego, 2022. "Characterizing and tailoring climate change adaptation practices into a diversified agroecosystem: an evidence from smallholder farmers in Ethiopia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(11), pages 13173-13197, November.
    4. Wenfeng Chi & Jing Jia & Tao Pan & Liang Jin & Xiulian Bai, 2020. "Multi-Scale Analysis of Green Space for Human Settlement Sustainability in Urban Areas of the Inner Mongolia Plateau, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-17, August.
    5. Ghazali, Samane & Zibaei, Mansour & Azadi, Hossein, 2023. "Impact of livelihood strategies and capitals on rangeland sustainability and nomads' poverty: A counterfactual analysis in Southwest Iran," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    6. Abir Majbauddin & Shinji Otani & Atsushi Tsunekawa & Nigussie Haregeweyn & Misganaw Teshager Abeje & Zerihun Nigussie & Intekhab Alam & Qing Qing & Toshio Masumoto & Youichi Kurozawa, 2020. "The Influence of Income and Livelihood Diversification on Health-Related Quality of Life in Rural Ethiopia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-12, April.
    7. Qingqing Yang & Yanhui Gao & Xiaoshu Cao & Jie Yang, 2023. "Contributions and Resistances to Vulnerability of Rural Human Settlements System in Agricultural Areas of Chinese Loess Plateau since 1980," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-31, July.
    8. Manzoor Hussain Memon & Rafiq Ahmed, 2022. "Multi-topographical landscape: comparative vulnerability of climate-induced disaster-prone rural area of Pakistan," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 111(2), pages 1575-1602, March.

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