Climate Change, Its Effect on Livestock Production and Adaptation Strategies in Hawassa Zuria and Hula Districts of Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Climate change remains the major threat for livelihood of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. This study reviews the effects of climate change on livestock production and adaptation measures employed by the farmers from two districts in Sidama Region. The data was collected from 189 sample households. The climate data were collected from National Meteorological Agency. The results revealed that the trend of RF was increasing by the rate of 0.79mm in Hawassa Zuria and 11.62mm in Hula per annum and there are tendencies indicating a future with warmer climate. The effects of climate change were reduced quality and quantity of feed, increased incidence of diseases, reduced quality and quantity of water and reduced production and reproduction performance of animals. From the total households 27% of the sample households were practicing reducing the number of animals in Hawassa Zuria and income diversification adaptation strategies in Hula. Adaptation strategies considered in the Multinomial logit model analysis were income diversification, supplementary feed, reducing number of animals and diversifying animals. Education, age, labor size, farm size of household and livestock holding are among the factors that might contribute to explain different levels of adaptive capacity within these two communities. Therefore, future policy should focus on improving the quality of meteorological data, water supply, enhancing innovations in livestock production system and enhancing research on use of new improved forage species.