Abstract
The study was conducted in Alaje district of South Zone of Tigray region to evaluate farmers’ perception on adaptation strategies on response to range land degradation and climate change effect on livestock feed production. Data was collected from 212 respondents within 3kebelle of two agroecology (highland and midland) using simple random sampling techniques for collecting information about HHs using questionnaire, kII and FGD with farmers and experts. Dropping pin technique was used to collect data on species composition, biomass, and palatability from the different grazing systems. In each of the grazing systems, a sampling block of 1.2km x1km was demarcated in a separate way.
In each of the plot, 1x1m2 quadrates for herbaceous species evaluation were used randomly by thrown a quadrate in to aback. The collected household data was organized and analyzed using SPSS Version 23. The study shows that farmers’ perceptions were confirmed by the indication from rainfall and temperature data obtained from metrological station. Findings reveal increased temperature, high rainfall variability and inter annual and intra seasonal variation. The result shows that major adaptation strategies is change in crop variety, reduce number of livestock, diversification of farm enterprise and home feeding, respectively were the farmers adapted to long-term changes in climate. The research findings revealed that majority of respondents viewed the rangeland condition as poor and degraded. The main feed resources to the livestock in both agroecology were natural pasture, crop residues and stubble grazing. During dry season, crop residues was the first livestock feed source followed by stubble grazing and natural pasture in both altitudes. However, during wet season, natural pasture was the first livestock feed source followed by stubble grazing in all altitudes. In terms of DM crop residues contributed the highest proportion (45.64%) of the total feed sources. The DM obtained from crop residues significantly differed (P<0.05) between the two agroecology. The total annual dry matter does not meet the total livestock requirement per annum in the study area. The total annual estimated available feed supply to maintain the livestock in the area fulfilled only 67.4%. 21 IFGS were identified and rank 10 top locally preferred species by FGD with purposively selected 20 experienced farmers, community elders, and local development agents. The criteria identified by locals of a given species were very diverse (N= 20), but can be categorized in to three groups; Animal-based: Plant based and multipurpose. Species composition of Chloris gayana, Andropogon distachyas, Melinis repens and Eleusine floccifolia was the most dominant species composition in the grazing land types. Species composition was significantly difference (P<0.01) among the GLTS. The average dry matter biomass was higher in enclosure site plots shows a higher herbaceous species composition and palatability composition compared with the free grazing and rotational grazing areas. Dry matter yield of grasses in the current study was within the range of 625 Kg/ha and 4835 Kg/ha in free grazed and enclosure sites respectively. Further research and development work is recommended to improve rangeland degradation and animal feed shortage through different adaptation options.
Keywords: climate change, farmers’ perceptions, adaptations, Rangeland degradation
