Abstract
Agriculture is a sector that dominates Ethiopia's economy which suffers from increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters. In the past few years, reducing vulnerability and adapting to climate change through implementing sound adaptation strategies has become an urgent issue for the world's developing countries like Ethiopia.
This study also demonstrates how farmers perceived and adapt climate change including the factor affect their choice of adaptation strategies. Data were collected from 128 Households using questionnaire and multi-stage sampling techniques using stratified random sampling in the purposively selected kebeles of the Lume district of East Shewa of Oromia region, central Ethiopia. The survey results showed that 90% of the respondent was perceived climate change and variability which is aligned with real metrological data. Changing planting calendar, Using early maturing crop variety, irrigation, using more input, using more input and engaging beyond farm activities were dominantly used adaptation strategies in the area. Parameter coefficients estimated by the multinomial logit model illustrate as most of the independent variables exhibit positive and statistically significant (P=0.05) effect on the choice of farmers adaptation. The model result showed the age of household has a significant and positive effect only on use more inputs and land management (0.158** & 0.11**). Distance from Awash River, education level and number livestock affected all adaptation strategies positively and significantly. Sex of household affected positively and significantly the probability of farmers choosing Changing planting calendar (3.49***) and Using early maturing crop variety (2.565**). In general farmers almost perceived climate change and implement different adaptation strategies based on their socioeconomically and institutional factors. For effective and efficient implementation of adaptation strategies, at farm level support could be critical. Policymakers should plan adaptation at local contexts base on farmers' socioeconomically characteristics and available institutions rather than adopting from another area at local and international levels.
Keywords; Multinomial logit, Awash River, climate change, perception, adaptation strategies
