PERCEPTION OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY IN DIRE DAWA ADMINISTRATION

This study was aimed to assess perception of smallholder farmers? on climate change and variability and its impact in two rural kebeles of Dire Dawa Administration. Both primary and secondary data sources were used and data?s were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The result obtained from meteorological data and respondents perception on local climate change and variability is almost indicates an increase in temperature and variability in rainfall. Local people also perceived the prevalence of hazards affecting their livelihood such as drought, extreme heat, livestock disease and flood. Changing planting date, implementing soil and water conservation techniques, shifting from cattle to goats and sheep, income source diversification and sowing drought tolerant crops are the major adaptation options employed by the farmers. The farmers also identifies lack of money, lack of information, shortage of land, poor potential for irrigation, lack of market access, lack of credit access, lack of agricultural inputs and lack of extension service as most important barriers to adaptation. Improving farmers? skill and knowledge through training, providing them with credit access and improved agricultural inputs, increasing their involvement in small scale irrigation and water harvesting should be done to elevate farmers? adaptive capacity to the change in local climate.