Abstract
climate change is a real environment and development threat that need global concern. Ethiopia is dependent on rain fed agriculture, it becomes one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Agriculture is key livelihood in Guba Lafto woreda farmer, whose major source of livelihood is annual crops for mainly consumption and perennial crops is chiefly for market.
This livelihoods are mostly suffering from drought and erratic rain fall during 'Belg' and 'Meher' seasons. However, farmers 'vulnerability and adaptation practices to climate change have not been seriously recognized nor empirically studied in Guba Lafto woreda. This study examines farmers vulnerability and adaptation practice to climate change in the context of sustainable livelihood. A questionnaire survey was conducted with a systematic random sample of 120 farmer households in three agro ecological zones namely, Laye Alawuha, Weyiney and Bekelomankiya in lowlands, midlands and highlands respectively. In addition to questioner, the study was used FGD with 30 farmers purposefully selected, IS with 15 farmers, 13 experts, 3 governmental leader, one NGO and one agricultural research institutes are deliberately selected and field observation. A modified form of sustainable livelihoods framework is deployed as analytical tool to determine vulnerability context, livelihood assets, institutions enabling or hindering adaptation and all data analyze through SPSS. The study shows climate change related problems such as drought, frequent occurrences of frost and snowfall. In addition to these climate change, socio economic related problems are farmer poor in wealth status, less land held, absences of employment opportunity and low agricultural technological capability. However, 60 (50%) of the respondents indicated on their well off (wealthy) as better well off from last 5 years ago to 2009 E.C comparison due to increasing agricultural output prices, land rent from other farmer, off farm activity employment and outside support from their relatives. Thus, the study identified the most vulnerable groups are the poor, youth especially female and children and farmer with low agricultural technology and input capability and also their livelihoods depends only annual crop. The farmers also took a number of measures to adapt to climate change within their capacity. These adaptation practices include changing crop variety, irrigation, crop diversification, soil and water conservation, reducing number of livestock, shifting planting date and off farm activity. The main barrier for adaptation to climate change is lack of knowledge, information, inputs, finance, labor and credits. They need government support overcome the constraints in which they face in using adaptation practices to climate change so that the sustainable livelihoods can be ensured.
key words: Climate changes, livelihood, vulnerability and adaptation practices
