Agricultural Adaptation and Institutional Responses to Climate Change Vulnerability in Ethiopia

Abstract

Climate change is a major development challenge to Ethiopia. Climate change is expected to
adversely affect all economic sectors, eco-regions, and social groups. Agriculture is one of the
most vulnerable sectors as it is highly dependent on rainfall. This report synthesises four case
studies focusing on the impacts, vulnerabilities and local adaptation practices in Ethiopia‘s
agricultural sector, including policy and institutional responses. The case studies were carried
out in nine districts, representing the major agro-ecological and farming systems. The case
studies use qualitative data generated through rapid appraisal methods, complimented with a
review of relevant literature. The results show that there are changes in local climatic
conditions, manifested through several indicators. These include increased temperatures,
changes in rainfall amounts and patterns, and increased incidence of drought and flood events.
Drought was a major problem in almost all sites, while floods affected localized areas in some
of the sites. Informants attributed climate change to poor management of natural resources
(forests and grazing lands), with rapid population growth as a key driver.