Search

In response to climate change, farmers implement various adaptation strategies. This study aimed at investigating the factors that determine adaptation choices using multivariate and ordered econometric models. It also examined the complementarity and substitutability of adaptation strategies using primary data collected from 383 smallholder farmers in North-Western Ethiopia. Our findings revealed adoption complimentary but no evidence of substitutability among adaptation strategies. The multivariate probit model estimation showed that household heads education level, gender, farmland soil fertility, access to extension service, credit access, climate information and key assets ownership are the key determinants of adoptions. The likelihood of adoption decreased when average long-term rainfall increased. In terms of the interaction effect between gender and access to credit, the study found that women-headed households with access to credit were more likely to use a higher number of adaptation strategies relative to women-headed households without access to credit. The significant factors for each strategy were different that entails how important it is to consider their unique characteristics in policy design and interventions. As per the finding, policy makers should consider gender-disaggregated interventions. It is also highly imperative to increase information access, basic education and extension service to boost farmers' adaptation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and variability adversely affect smallholder farmers in developing countries, including Ethiopia. In response, farmers are adopting various adaptation strategies. However, there is a paucity of studies examining whether or not these responses benefit farmers in increasing crop productivity. Cognizant of this fact and its policy importance, this study empirically analyzes the impact of adaptation strategies on crop productivity in northwest Ethiopia. We collected data through household survey questionnaire, focus group discussion and key informant interview. We also analyzed time-series climate data to see how crop yield responds to climate variability. The empirical model employs the endogenous switching regression. Climate information and distance to market are validated as instrumental variables. The model revealed that farmers who adopted adaptation strategies would have gained lower yield if they had not adopted them; and those who did not adopt a strategy would have gained higher yield than if they had. Improved seed, contact with development agents (DAs), urea, compost and rainfall are significantly associated with the likelihood of increasing yield. The results also show systematic difference where age is inversely related with adapters and vice versa for non-adapters. Hence, adaptation interventions should consider these heterogeneities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]