Climate variability, communities’ perceptions and land management strategies in Lay Gayint Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

: Climate variability is the fluctuation of climate elements from the normal values making the agrarian communities of Ethiopia the most sensitive social groups to its hazards. The objective of this study is to examine climate variability, local communities’ perceptions and land management strategies in Lay Gayint Woreda, Ethiopia. Primary data were collected from 200 randomly selected households settled in varied ecological areas. Metrology data were gathered from Nefas Mewcha Station from 1979 to 2010. Standardized rainfall anomaly index (SRAI), crop diversification index (CDI) and other descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The climate and the survey data revealed an increasing temperature, and decreasing and/or erratic rainfall pattern. 2002 and 2008 were extreme and severe dry years, respectively whist 1984 and 1990 received near normal rainfall amount. Over 87 % of the surveyed households perceived an increase in temperature over the last 20 years. The majority of the households are more likely to adopt land management strategies against climate variability. Terraces and check dams construction and planting trees were the major land management strategies of local communities. However, crop diversification index (CDI) was 0.11 indicating very low CD as the cultivated area is dominated by a single crop there. Although the study area receives inefficient rainfall the rugged topography coupled with poor soil conditions have hindered irrigation practices. Integrated watershed management activities and extension services and information dissemination systems should be strengthened and established to provide reliable weather information for farmers given that their livelihood is dependent on it.