Abstract
Increasing population pressure and resulting fragmentation of farmlands induced continuous cultivation has been the major contributor for climate change. Developing world attempts various programs and initiatives which enhance HHs to choose different CA techniques that enable to adapt climate change. Therefore, understanding the factors affecting to choose CA plays a key role.
This study was designed to assess the contribution of conservation agriculture for climate change adoption with specific reference to Kilite-awlaelo district. The main objective of the study was to investigate the contribution of conservation agriculture towards climate change adaptation. A survey was conducted with a structured questionnaire with 150 households that were randomly selected from three peasant association of which 74 were CA adopters and 76 non-adopters. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with smallholder farmers and focus group discussion with key informants, agricultural experts and peasant association administration leaders. Data from questionnaires, interview and the focus group discussion were analyzed by using descriptive statistics /t-test and chi-square/ and binary logistic regression. The result indicated that most of CA adopters were in active age group 35 to 65 and more educated than non-adopters. Intercropping/crop rotation, leaving crop residue, and adding organic matter were the CA technologies widely implemented in the study area. Level of education, access to extension and credit had significant positive effect on CA adoption while engagement on off-farm activities had significant negative effect. Level of education and access to extension services increased the livelihoods of CA adoption by 10.9 and 2.8 times more than those who did not attend school and do not have access to extension services. Finally, the study recommends that as the conservation agriculture forced farmers to boost the tolerance tendency against climatic change. Then the local government and all responsible bodies could be given more attention over it.
Keywords: Extension service, Farm land, Household, Highland, Off-farm
