Agriculture is the most significant sector in Sub-Saharan Africa, but climate change and weather data are expected to negatively influence it. Climate change would undoubtedly result in significant welfare losses, particularly for smallholders whose primary source of income is agriculture.

1. Agriculture and Climate Change Ethiopia Farmers Find
Climate-Smart Ways to Beat Erratic Weather
Impact of climate change on agriculture
Agriculture is the most significant sector in Sub-Saharan Africa, but climate change and weather data
are expected to negatively influence it. Climate change would undoubtedly result in significant welfare
losses, particularly for smallholders whose primary source of income is agriculture. Climate extremes
are already impacting social, economic, and environmental systems, while future changes resulting
from further warming will pose new concerns.
The study's findings show that annual rainfall variability has a negative influence on the combined
riskiness of all crop portfolios at a household level, but seasonal rainfall variation has a less consistent
impact. Even when intercrop relationships are considered, farmers are more inclined to choose less
hazardous crops with lower returns.
Impacts on pests and pathogens
Climate change will likely increase the populations and ranges of some agricultural pests and water-
borne pathogens, necessitating changes in crop and livestock breeding practices, more assertive
adoption of pest management practices, and the introduction of new inputs to combat more virulent
challenges.
Nutritional Consequences Increased atmospheric CO2 has been proven to diminish crop nutrient
content, posing nutritional issues. On the other hand, warming surface and groundwater increase the
incidence of waterborne bacteria that cause diarrhea.
Ethiopian smallholder farmers have begun using decreased tillage or adding manure to the soil data as
climate mitigation strategies. Through the preservation of soil organic matter, these methods can
sequester carbon.
As a result, soil water-holding capacity rose, which is important in dry areas and stabilizes crop yields.
Farmers have also begun to implement climate adaptation practices such as:
• Adoption of local livestock breeds
• Decrease of livestock numbers to controllable herd sizes
• Increased fertilizer application
• Planting barley instead of wheat
• Boundary planting

2. • Introduction of desho grass strips, an Ethiopian indigenous grass
• Early sowing of crops and sustainable livelihoods
• Storing products in good years to compensate for bad years
• seeking out alternative sources of income
According to a study published in the Climate Policy journal, these climate adaptation and agriculture
data techniques were likely prompted by changes in weather patterns seen by farmers.
The researchers, led by Diana Feliciano of the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom,
investigated how adaptation and mitigation practices were implemented in smallholder farms in
Ethiopia. They calculated GHG emissions related to mitigation techniques identified strategies,
hurdles, and enablers for implementation.
Cost-effective climate mitigation
Twenty-five small-scale farmers were chosen and questioned about land-use and land-management
techniques. The Mitigation Strategies Tool (MOT) was used to calculate GHG emissions, identify
mitigation and co-benefits, and serve as a forum for learning and information exchange among various
stakeholders.
In Ethiopia, the MOT was utilized to quickly assess land and livestock management methods'
contributions to GHG emissions and carbon capture and storage. It was also utilized to bridge the gap
between research and practice, allowing for better information transfer and learning.
Carbon dioxide emissions are measured in kilograms of co2 equivalents per hectare (kg CO2eq ha1)
and kilograms of dioxide equivalent per kilogram of the product (kg CO2eq kg1).
Synthetic fertilizer application resulted in GHG emissions ranging from 0.5 to 2.6 t CO2eq ha1 in
wheat, 0.3 to 3.6 t CO2eq ha1 in barley, and 0.5 to 8.3 t CO2eq ha1 in potatoes. Among the farmers
surveyed, CO2 emissions from animal production ranged from 6.1 to 31.4 t CO2eq ha1.
All of the farmers in the research noted that weather patterns have changed. Reduced rainfall, improved
warmth, reduced cloudiness, and more sunlight hours were all stated estimated by weather forecasting.
Farmers in the poll also highlighted increasing weather volatility and changing patterns.
According to some farmers, climate change has also resulted in a lack of water and the disappearance
of water springs and an increase in crop diseases, lower agricultural yields, and delays at the beginning
of the crop season.
The research area's farmers' land tenure security (Tula watershed region, Doyogena district, Kembata
Tembaro Region, Ethiopia's Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region) could explain why
they are adopting more sustainable farming practices.

3. The decision to apply manure, crop diversification, flood control, soil conservation, and agroforestry
are more likely on owner-cultivated plots than on rental plots, according to a 2018 report by
Hailemariam Teklewold.
Through dialogue with farmers and statistics on the organic matter content supplied to the soil, barriers
and enabling variables must be investigated. These activities aid in soil conservation, which is
important for adapting to climate change in semi-arid areas.
MOT can be used in the future to enhance the discovery of successful climate change mitigation and
adaptation strategies by facilitating knowledge exchange between practitioners and researchers in
Ethiopia and other developing countries with limited data.
Ethiopian adaption techniques to climate change
Adaptation to climate change and weather forecasting is the modification of natural or anthropogenic
systems in response to present or anticipated climatic stressors or their impacts, which mitigates harm
or maximizes benefits, whereas mitigation refers to minimizing climate change through lowering GHG
emissions. According to a study, poor building designs, farming, food insecurity, low income,
forestry, and traditional solid-waste management systems have harmed developing countries' ability
to adapt and mitigate climate change. Adaptation to the effects of climate change in general,
particularly the agricultural sector, is a well-known occurrence. The agricultural industry can adapt if
technological, resource and management improvements are implemented swiftly.
Adapting to climate change will necessitate adjustments and modifications at all levels, from the local
to the national and international. To cope with future climate stress, communities must increase their
resilience by adopting appropriate technology while utilizing traditional knowledge and diversifying
their livelihoods. Traditional wisdom and local coping techniques must be utilized with community
and government actions. Governments and non-governmental organizations must consider climate
change in their budget planning at all levels of decision-making to enable effective adaptation
strategies.
Farmers adjust crop mix, planting dates, and various agronomic procedures in response to climate
change to maximize profit. Crop choice is a major example of farmer adaptation techniques, where a
certain crop will be an ideal option based on the consequences of a warmer climate. In addition,
Adaptation, according to the IPCC's Third Assessment Report, can mitigate the negative effects of
climate change while enhancing positive effects, but it will come at a cost and will not prevent all
harm. It is also claimed that human and natural systems will adapt spontaneously, and that planned
adaptation can complement autonomous adaptation. On the other hand, adaptation to human systems
has more alternatives and incentives than adaptation to safeguard natural systems.

4. References
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/africa/water-africa-s-gold-how-poverty-exacerbated-nigeria-s-
acute-water-crisis-81416
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climate-smart-agriculture
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323496575_Evaluating_smallholder_farmers'_preferences
_for_climate_smart_agricultural_practices_in_Tehuledere_District_northeastern_Ethiopia
https://www.fao.org/3/i5485e/i5485e.pdf
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311932.2019.1613770