Abstract:
The main purpose of this study is to assess the impact of climate change and variability on rural
livelihoods and community responses in Merhabete woreda, North Shewa zone, Amhara region.
Thus, the study sought to examine the trend of rainfall and temperature in the last three decades,
assess impacts of climate change and variability on rural livelihoods, identify individuals „and
government response, and group of society vulnerable by climate variability. To achieve the
objectives, appropriate data were collected from three sample kebeles having different agro
ecological zones, which were selected through simple random sampling method and 138
household heads were purposively selected from sample kebeles. FGD and key informant
interview were conducted to supplement the quantitative survey results. In addition, monthly
rainfall and temperature data for the period 1989-2019 were used to analyses the trends and
variability of rainfall and temperature in the area. Results indicated that the maximum
temperature showed statistically significant increasing trend at p=0.01 level with insignificant
decreasing trend of minimum temperature. The annual rainfall indicate statistically significant
decreasing trend at p=0.01 level with significant decreasing trend of Bega and Kiremt rainfall at
p=0.01 and 0.05 level respectively, but the Belg rainfall shows insignificantly decreasing trend.
Crop yield reduction, shortage of pasture for animals, occurrence of new disease on crops,
humans and animals, shortage of water supply, flooding and erosion are the major perceived
impacts of climate change and variability. In response farmers had adopted different coping
strategies like; selling fire wood and charcoal, decrease amount of meal, selling of livestock,
seasonal migration and borrowing grains from relatives. The most common adaptation options
include;growing short maturing crops, storage of crop grains, intensive irrigation, income and
crop diversification. The study also identified women, children, elders, disables; poor and
landless are most vulnerable to the existing effect of climate change and variability. Based on the
results, this study suggests the following recommendations to minimize the impacts of climate
variability. Empowering peoples with education and information, beneficiary to productive safety
net program, facilitating access to credit services, train farmers on utilization of inputs, use
environmentally sound agricultural production system, use integrated adaptation & mitigation
measures, solve the constraint and expand indigenous adaptation strategies.
