Berhanu Assefa A, Ayele Zewdu B, Dagnew Dessalegn C, Melese Tadele, Fenta Abeje B, Kassie Koyachew E
Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia.
Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia.
Heliyon. 2024 Mar 22;10(7):e28277. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28277. eCollection 2024 Apr 15.
This study delves into the profound impact of climate change on agriculture in Ethiopia, particularly the vulnerabilities faced by smallholder farmers and the resulting implications for poverty. Focusing on three distinct agroecologies, namely: highland, midland, and lowland zones. The study employed a robust methodology, combining a cross-sectional survey, spatial-temporal trend analysis using GIS, and the development of an overall vulnerability index through the balanced weighted average method. The study, encompassing 646 households, combines data from a variety of sources and analytical tools like the vulnerability index, ArcGIS 10.8, and ERDA's IMAGINE 2015. Utilizing the LVI-IPCC scale, the study shows that climate change is an immediate vulnerability in all agroecological zones. It identifies highland areas as the most sensitive and exposed regions, while lowland households are found to be the most vulnerable in terms of overall vulnerabilities. The research reveals specific challenges faced by communities, such as inadequate health facilities and insufficient food and water supplies in both highland and lowland agroecosystems. Additionally, our investigation has observed a significant alteration in land use practices, specifically the shift from communal grazing land to private cultivation and plantations, emphasizing eucalyptus. This alteration enhances the ecosystem's vulnerability to climate disturbances. The study suggests targeted interventions, such as advocating for sustainable land-use practices, afforestation, and adopting climate-smart agriculture practices. It is important to implement policy measures that prioritize conserving and restoring shrubland, grazing land, and natural forests to ensure both long-term socio-economic and ecosystem resilience. The study's nuanced insights are instrumental in understanding the diverse challenges posed by climate change in Ethiopian agriculture, supporting informed policymaking and sustainable interventions.
本研究深入探讨了气候变化对埃塞俄比亚农业的深远影响，特别是小农面临的脆弱性以及由此产生的贫困问题。研究聚焦于三种不同的农业生态环境，即高地、中部和低地地区。该研究采用了一种稳健的方法，结合了横断面调查、利用地理信息系统（GIS）进行的时空趋势分析，以及通过平衡加权平均法制定的总体脆弱性指数。该研究涵盖了646户家庭，整合了来自各种来源的数据以及诸如脆弱性指数、ArcGIS 10.8和ERDA的IMAGINE 2015等分析工具。利用LVI-IPCC量表，研究表明气候变化在所有农业生态区都是一个紧迫的脆弱性问题。研究确定高地地区是最敏感和受影响的地区，而低地家庭在总体脆弱性方面被发现是最脆弱的。研究揭示了社区面临的具体挑战，例如高地和低地农业生态系统中卫生设施不足以及粮食和水供应不足。此外，我们的调查观察到土地使用方式发生了重大变化，特别是从公共牧场向私人耕种和种植园的转变，其中以桉树种植为主。这种变化增强了生态系统对气候干扰的脆弱性。该研究建议采取有针对性的干预措施，例如倡导可持续土地利用做法、造林以及采用气候智能型农业做法。实施优先保护和恢复灌木丛、牧场和天然森林的政策措施非常重要，以确保长期的社会经济和生态系统复原力。该研究的细致见解有助于理解气候变化给埃塞俄比亚农业带来的各种挑战，为明智的政策制定和可持续干预提供支持。
