EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY ON RURAL LIVELIHOODS AND ADAPTIVE STRATEGIES OF DARA WOREDA, SIDAMA REGION, ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT Africa has been identified as one of the continent’s most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The negative effects of climate change are threatening to reverse development gains in many parts of the world especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and Ethiopia. The aim of this study was is to assess effects of climate change and variability on rural livelihoods, and the adaptation strategies being undertaken in Dara woreda, Sidama Region, Ethiopia. Both quantitative and qualitative components was conducted as research design. In order to generate the necessary data for the research work, both primary and secondary sources of data used. A total of 121 sample sizes determine and to select sample kebeles and household heads, multi stage sampling techniques were employed. Out of the total 121 HHs 84(69.4%) were male while 37(30.6%) were female.The result of chi-square test reveals that P=0.873 and 95% or 0.05 which determine there isa significant difference between adaptation to climate change and literacy of respondents. The average annual rain fall of Dara District in the years 2005-2013, ranges from 750.8 mm to 1320.4 mm. The average maximum temperature of Dara District over the past 9 years increased by about 1.04 annually, while average minimum temperature is decreasing by 0.72. The majority 119(98.3%) of HHs were dependent on crop production, 2(1.7%) of respondents depend on livestock rearing. In addition 37(30.57%) respondents were practice off-farm activates. Almost 92(76.0%) of the respondents reported that there is a change in the amount and timing of rain fall in the study area and it is adversely impacting crop production. Farmers that rains are becoming both more erratic and coming later and going earlier in the cropping seasons. The amount and timing of the rain fall in the area is very variable, both maximum and minimum temperature consistently increasing from year to year.