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Vulnerability of Smallholder Farmers to Climate Change-Induced Shocks in East Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia

Author

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  • Titay Zeleke

    (College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
    Africa Center of Excellence for Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation, Haramaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia)

  • Fekadu Beyene

    (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Haramaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia)

  • Temesgen Deressa

    (Department of Economics, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA)

  • Jemal Yousuf

    (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Haramaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia)

  • Temesgen Kebede

    (College of Bussiness and Economics, Haramaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia)

Abstract

Vulnerability assessment varies widely across households, countries, and regions. Though many previous studies assessed vulnerability to climate change, their unit of analysis was aggregate. Therefore, the objective of this study was to measure the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate change at the household level and identify its determinant factors in east Hararghe zone. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select districts, kebeles, and sample respondents. Vulnerability as expected poverty approach was used to measure household-level vulnerability. Logit model was also used to assess factors contributing to households’ vulnerability. The study revealed that 73% of households were vulnerable to climate-induced shocks. Households with better farm experience, land size, livestock ownership, access to credit, access to extension service, social capital, access to climate information, non-farm income, and headed by a male were not vulnerable to climate change; whereas households who were living in low and midland agro-ecologies, far from the market, and participating in productive safety-net programs were vulnerable to climate change. The study indicated that the vulnerability of smallholder farmers was sensitive to the minimum income required to maintain daily life. Income-generating activities that supplement farm income should be well designed in policy to reduce the vulnerability of smallholder farmers.

Suggested Citation

  • Titay Zeleke & Fekadu Beyene & Temesgen Deressa & Jemal Yousuf & Temesgen Kebede, 2021. "Vulnerability of Smallholder Farmers to Climate Change-Induced Shocks in East Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:2162-:d:501028
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Richard Kombat & Paolo Sarfatti & Oluwole Abiodun Fatunbi, 2021. "A Review of Climate-Smart Agriculture Technology Adoption by Farming Households in Sub-Saharan Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-16, November.
    3. Yating Peng & Bo Liu & Mengliang Zhou, 2022. "Sustainable Livelihoods in Rural Areas under the Shock of Climate Change: Evidence from China Labor-Force Dynamic Survey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-21, June.

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