{"title":"Smallholder farmers’ vulnerability to climate change in northwest Ethiopia","authors":"Aimro Likinaw, Arragaw Alemayehu, W. Bewket","doi":"10.1108/ijccsm-03-2023-0041","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Purpose\nThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate change in northwest Ethiopia.\n\nDesign/methodology/approach\nTo achieve this aim, data was collected from a survey of 352 households, which were stratified into three groups: Lay Gayint (138 or 39%), Tach Gayint (117 or 33%) and Simada district (97 or 28%). To gain a deeper understanding of the vulnerability of these households, two approaches were used: the livelihood vulnerability index (LVI), consisting of 32 indicators, and the socioeconomic vulnerability index (SeVI), containing 31 indicators. Furthermore, qualitative data was obtained through focus group discussions conducted in six randomly chosen groups from the three districts, which were used to supplement the findings.\n\nFindings\nBoth methods indicate that Simada is the most vulnerable district, followed by Tach Gayint and Lay Gayint. According to the SeVI approach, Simada district showed the highest level of sensitivity and exposure to climate-related hazards, as well as the lowest score for adaptive capacity. However, using the LVI approach, Simada district was found to have the highest sensitivity to climate effects and exposure to climate-related hazards, along with a higher adaptive capacity than both Lay Gayint and Tach Gayint districts.\n\nOriginality/value\nAlthough there are numerous studies available on the vulnerability of farmers to climate change, this particular study stands out by using and contrasting two approaches – the LVI and the SeVI – to assess the vulnerability of households in the study area. Previous research has indicated that no single approach is sufficient to evaluate climate change vulnerability, as each approach has its own strengths and limitations. The findings of this study have significant implications for policymakers and development practitioners, as they can use the results to identify the households that are most vulnerable to climate change. This will enable them to design adaptation options that are tailored to the specific needs of each community and that will effectively address the risks of current and future climate change.\n","PeriodicalId":46689,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.5000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management","FirstCategoryId":"90","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ijccsm-03-2023-0041","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate change in northwest Ethiopia.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve this aim, data was collected from a survey of 352 households, which were stratified into three groups: Lay Gayint (138 or 39%), Tach Gayint (117 or 33%) and Simada district (97 or 28%). To gain a deeper understanding of the vulnerability of these households, two approaches were used: the livelihood vulnerability index (LVI), consisting of 32 indicators, and the socioeconomic vulnerability index (SeVI), containing 31 indicators. Furthermore, qualitative data was obtained through focus group discussions conducted in six randomly chosen groups from the three districts, which were used to supplement the findings.
Findings
Both methods indicate that Simada is the most vulnerable district, followed by Tach Gayint and Lay Gayint. According to the SeVI approach, Simada district showed the highest level of sensitivity and exposure to climate-related hazards, as well as the lowest score for adaptive capacity. However, using the LVI approach, Simada district was found to have the highest sensitivity to climate effects and exposure to climate-related hazards, along with a higher adaptive capacity than both Lay Gayint and Tach Gayint districts.
Originality/value
Although there are numerous studies available on the vulnerability of farmers to climate change, this particular study stands out by using and contrasting two approaches – the LVI and the SeVI – to assess the vulnerability of households in the study area. Previous research has indicated that no single approach is sufficient to evaluate climate change vulnerability, as each approach has its own strengths and limitations. The findings of this study have significant implications for policymakers and development practitioners, as they can use the results to identify the households that are most vulnerable to climate change. This will enable them to design adaptation options that are tailored to the specific needs of each community and that will effectively address the risks of current and future climate change.
期刊介绍:
Effective from volume 10 (2018), International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management is an open access journal. In the history of science there have been only a few issues which have mobilized the attention of scientists and policy-makers alike as the issue of climate change currently does. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management is an international forum that addresses the need for disseminating scholarly research, projects and other initiatives aimed to facilitate a better understanding of the subject matter of climate change. The journal publishes papers dealing with policy-making on climate change, and methodological approaches to cope with the problems deriving from climate change. It disseminates experiences from projects and case studies where due consideration to environmental, economic, social and political aspects is given and especially the links and leverages that can be attained by this holistic approach. It regards climate change under the perspective of its wider implications: for economic growth, water and food security, and for people''s survival – especially those living in the poorest communities in developing countries.