Navigating dynamics of farm household livelihood vulnerability to climate-related risks in southern Ethiopia: An agroecology-based comparative analysis

Ethiopia is frequently mentioned as a country that is extremely vulnerable to climate change. The country’s high vulnerability is mostly from its climate-sensitive agricultural sectors. However, changes in rural household livelihood vulnerability levels were detected across agro ecologic zones. Thus...

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Main Authors: Daniel Dalle, Yishak Gecho, Sisay Belay Bedeke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Cogent Food & Agriculture
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2023.2292871
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author Daniel Dalle
Yishak Gecho
Sisay Belay Bedeke
author_facet Daniel Dalle
Yishak Gecho
Sisay Belay Bedeke
author_sort Daniel Dalle
collection DOAJ
description Ethiopia is frequently mentioned as a country that is extremely vulnerable to climate change. The country’s high vulnerability is mostly from its climate-sensitive agricultural sectors. However, changes in rural household livelihood vulnerability levels were detected across agro ecologic zones. Thus, this study aimed to investigate agro-ecological-based farm households’ livelihood vulnerability to climate change in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. The study used LVI-IPCC in addition to the overall vulnerability index to quantify vulnerability factors in three selected agro-ecologies. In this study, both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data were acquired from 371 sampled households, as well as through a focus group discussion and key informant interviews. Secondary data, notably climatic data, was accessed for the years 1991 to 2022. Data on biophysical features were also collected and incorporated into indices. The study found significant variation in vulnerability factors among agro-ecological systems, with Kola agroecology being the most vulnerable (0.04) due to its high exposure (0.59) and sensitivity values (0.58), and low ability to adapt (0.52). Dega agroecology was the least vulnerable (0.48) due to its low exposure (0.46) and sensitivity (0.44). Woyna Dega agro-ecology had an intermediate score in all three factors. Based on our findings, we suggested that resilience-building adaption strategies were critical for reducing the vulnerability of smallholder farmers, and the plans should also take into account local conditions. It also advocates for more decisive policy measures to improve the community’s adaptive capacity and reduce its exposure level.
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spelling doaj-art-82716624148a4603a281a4348537d7482025-01-05T17:57:19ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Food & Agriculture2331-19322024-12-0110110.1080/23311932.2023.2292871Navigating dynamics of farm household livelihood vulnerability to climate-related risks in southern Ethiopia: An agroecology-based comparative analysisDaniel Dalle0Yishak Gecho1Sisay Belay Bedeke2Department of RDAE, Wolaita Sodo University, Sodo, EthiopiaDepartment of RDAE, Wolaita Sodo University, Sodo, EthiopiaDepartment of RDAE, Wolaita Sodo University, Sodo, EthiopiaEthiopia is frequently mentioned as a country that is extremely vulnerable to climate change. The country’s high vulnerability is mostly from its climate-sensitive agricultural sectors. However, changes in rural household livelihood vulnerability levels were detected across agro ecologic zones. Thus, this study aimed to investigate agro-ecological-based farm households’ livelihood vulnerability to climate change in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. The study used LVI-IPCC in addition to the overall vulnerability index to quantify vulnerability factors in three selected agro-ecologies. In this study, both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data were acquired from 371 sampled households, as well as through a focus group discussion and key informant interviews. Secondary data, notably climatic data, was accessed for the years 1991 to 2022. Data on biophysical features were also collected and incorporated into indices. The study found significant variation in vulnerability factors among agro-ecological systems, with Kola agroecology being the most vulnerable (0.04) due to its high exposure (0.59) and sensitivity values (0.58), and low ability to adapt (0.52). Dega agroecology was the least vulnerable (0.48) due to its low exposure (0.46) and sensitivity (0.44). Woyna Dega agro-ecology had an intermediate score in all three factors. Based on our findings, we suggested that resilience-building adaption strategies were critical for reducing the vulnerability of smallholder farmers, and the plans should also take into account local conditions. It also advocates for more decisive policy measures to improve the community’s adaptive capacity and reduce its exposure level.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2023.2292871climate changelivelihoodsvulnerability indexadaptation preferences
spellingShingle Daniel Dalle
Yishak Gecho
Sisay Belay Bedeke
Navigating dynamics of farm household livelihood vulnerability to climate-related risks in southern Ethiopia: An agroecology-based comparative analysis
Cogent Food & Agriculture
climate change
livelihoods
vulnerability index
adaptation preferences
title Navigating dynamics of farm household livelihood vulnerability to climate-related risks in southern Ethiopia: An agroecology-based comparative analysis
title_full Navigating dynamics of farm household livelihood vulnerability to climate-related risks in southern Ethiopia: An agroecology-based comparative analysis
title_fullStr Navigating dynamics of farm household livelihood vulnerability to climate-related risks in southern Ethiopia: An agroecology-based comparative analysis
title_full_unstemmed Navigating dynamics of farm household livelihood vulnerability to climate-related risks in southern Ethiopia: An agroecology-based comparative analysis
title_short Navigating dynamics of farm household livelihood vulnerability to climate-related risks in southern Ethiopia: An agroecology-based comparative analysis
title_sort navigating dynamics of farm household livelihood vulnerability to climate related risks in southern ethiopia an agroecology based comparative analysis
topic climate change
livelihoods
vulnerability index
adaptation preferences
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2023.2292871
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AT sisaybelaybedeke navigatingdynamicsoffarmhouseholdlivelihoodvulnerabilitytoclimaterelatedrisksinsouthernethiopiaanagroecologybasedcomparativeanalysis