DETERMINANTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA

Agro-ecology is recognized as a viable approach to enhance agricultural production and productivity by harmonizing with local natural patterns and improving resilience through sustainable adaptation and mitigation strategies. However, the identification of agro-ecology-based adaptation and mitigation strategies, along with their determinants, remains limited. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the agro-ecological adaptation and mitigation strategies and the factors influencing the choices made by rural farm households in Tigray, Ethiopia. Comprehensive primary data were collected from 315 farm households and analyzed using a multivariate probit model. The analysis revealed that a significant number of respondents acknowledge the negative impacts of climate change on food systems, quoting changes in rainfall patterns and rising temperatures. In response, farmers employ various strategies, with water harvesting and irrigation were the most widely adopted, followed by mixed agriculture and crop diversity in the study areas. While crop diversity, the use of organic fertilizer, and soil and water conservation (SWC) are among the highest-rated strategies adopted in the midland and highland agro-ecologies; SWC, crop diversification, and fertilizer application are the leading strategies in the lowlands in their descending order. The study found that farmers' adaptation and mitigation strategies are influenced by a variety of determinants, including perception of climate change, level of exposure, socio-demographic characteristics, access to economic and biophysical resources, adjustments in agricultural management practices and access to institutional support. The results emphasize the importance of agro-ecological-based identification to bolster effective responses; and understanding the determinants is crucial for developing effective strategies that enhance resilience and sustainability.