Perception and trends of climate change: assessing impacts on smallholder farmers and Agro-Pastoral communities in Northern Ethiopia
Abstract Climate change is significantly impacting smallholder farmers and agro-pastoral communities, particularly in developing countries. However, studies on their perceptions towards climate change are limited. Therefore, this study assessed the climate trends and the perception of smallholder fa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Discover Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00272-x |
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| author | Iddisah Alhassan Abadi Teklehaimanot Negasi Solomon Yirga Gufi Mebrahtu Brhan Gebre Kahsay Birhane Emmanuel Eze |
| author_facet | Iddisah Alhassan Abadi Teklehaimanot Negasi Solomon Yirga Gufi Mebrahtu Brhan Gebre Kahsay Birhane Emmanuel Eze |
| author_sort | Iddisah Alhassan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Climate change is significantly impacting smallholder farmers and agro-pastoral communities, particularly in developing countries. However, studies on their perceptions towards climate change are limited. Therefore, this study assessed the climate trends and the perception of smallholder farmers and agro-pastoral communities in two districts of Northern Ethiopia. This study utilized both climate (temperature and rainfall) data and household survey data to support the analysis. Climate trends were examined using the Mann-Kendall test, while community perceptions were assessed through Chi-square tests and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The Mann-Kendall test revealed significant temperature increase of 0.025 °C and 0.039 °C in Abala and Hintalo Wajirat respectively, while rainfall trends showed marginal significance at the 10% level (0.070 and 0.099). Perception data, assessed via Chi-square tests and PCA, indicated that 96% of Abala and 98% of Hintalo Wajirat farmers perceived climate change. Significant difference were found in the perceptions of natural versus anthropogenic causes of climate change between districts. Key perceived impacts of climate change included rising temperatures, declining rainfall, pest and disease outbreaks, and species loss. These findings highlight the need for targeted policy interventions to enhance local adaptation and climate resilience strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-386675c19dfa46eab347eeebbae25d20 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-9598 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-386675c19dfa46eab347eeebbae25d202025-08-20T03:43:21ZengSpringerDiscover Agriculture2731-95982025-07-013112510.1007/s44279-025-00272-xPerception and trends of climate change: assessing impacts on smallholder farmers and Agro-Pastoral communities in Northern EthiopiaIddisah Alhassan0Abadi Teklehaimanot1Negasi Solomon2Yirga Gufi3Mebrahtu Brhan Gebre4Kahsay Birhane5Emmanuel Eze6Institute of Climate and Society, Mekelle UniversityDepartment of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension, Mekelle UniversityTigray Institute of Policy StudiesTigray Institute of Policy StudiesDepartment of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Mekelle UniversityTigray Institute of Policy StudiesGeographical and Environmental Education Unit, Department of Social Science Education, Faculty of Education, University of NigeriaAbstract Climate change is significantly impacting smallholder farmers and agro-pastoral communities, particularly in developing countries. However, studies on their perceptions towards climate change are limited. Therefore, this study assessed the climate trends and the perception of smallholder farmers and agro-pastoral communities in two districts of Northern Ethiopia. This study utilized both climate (temperature and rainfall) data and household survey data to support the analysis. Climate trends were examined using the Mann-Kendall test, while community perceptions were assessed through Chi-square tests and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The Mann-Kendall test revealed significant temperature increase of 0.025 °C and 0.039 °C in Abala and Hintalo Wajirat respectively, while rainfall trends showed marginal significance at the 10% level (0.070 and 0.099). Perception data, assessed via Chi-square tests and PCA, indicated that 96% of Abala and 98% of Hintalo Wajirat farmers perceived climate change. Significant difference were found in the perceptions of natural versus anthropogenic causes of climate change between districts. Key perceived impacts of climate change included rising temperatures, declining rainfall, pest and disease outbreaks, and species loss. These findings highlight the need for targeted policy interventions to enhance local adaptation and climate resilience strategies.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00272-xClimate changeSmallholder farmersAgro-pastoral communityPCAEthiopia |
| spellingShingle | Iddisah Alhassan Abadi Teklehaimanot Negasi Solomon Yirga Gufi Mebrahtu Brhan Gebre Kahsay Birhane Emmanuel Eze Perception and trends of climate change: assessing impacts on smallholder farmers and Agro-Pastoral communities in Northern Ethiopia Discover Agriculture Climate change Smallholder farmers Agro-pastoral community PCA Ethiopia |
| title | Perception and trends of climate change: assessing impacts on smallholder farmers and Agro-Pastoral communities in Northern Ethiopia |
| title_full | Perception and trends of climate change: assessing impacts on smallholder farmers and Agro-Pastoral communities in Northern Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Perception and trends of climate change: assessing impacts on smallholder farmers and Agro-Pastoral communities in Northern Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perception and trends of climate change: assessing impacts on smallholder farmers and Agro-Pastoral communities in Northern Ethiopia |
| title_short | Perception and trends of climate change: assessing impacts on smallholder farmers and Agro-Pastoral communities in Northern Ethiopia |
| title_sort | perception and trends of climate change assessing impacts on smallholder farmers and agro pastoral communities in northern ethiopia |
| topic | Climate change Smallholder farmers Agro-pastoral community PCA Ethiopia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00272-x |
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