Abstract:
This research report explored climate change effects and farmers' coping strategies in district.
Its an attempt to provide a Preliminary analysis of climate change effects and farmers’ coping
strategies to adverse climate change effects in the district. Data were collected through in-depth
interviews and a structured questionnaire administered to 90farmersfrom three villages. The
results indicate that farmers are currently facing substantial climate change effects that force
them to find ways to minimize the effects by employing different coping strategies. Adverse
climate change effects range from prolonged drought, shortened and unpredictable rainfall
regimes and long sunshine hours that results in prolonged dryness. The results of these are
decrease in crop yield and hence diminishing ood security and livelihoods. Developed coping
strategies towards climate variability include application of fertilizer, use of certified seeds,
irrigation, early planting intercropping and relying on newly introduced crops that have short
growth period. The local government on the other hand, is emphasizing on environmental
protection and conservation to reduce the adverse impacts of climate change. It is recommended
to strengthen and adapt existing local and indigenous coping strategies as key to enabling and
empowering communities to enhance their own resilience. Farmers need not only remain as
victims of climate change but as part of the solution.
