ABSTRACT

Although most studies showed the positive impact of climate change adaptation on farmers’ livelihoods, not all strategies are effective. Based on a qualitative study of smallholder farmers in central Ethiopia, this study examined the roles of contextual factors in contributing to or constraining the effectiveness of adaptation strategies. The results show that (i) strategies heavily reliant on rainfall were less effective; (ii) farmers with fatalistic attitudes utilized survival-oriented and low-return strategies, which were less effective to protect them from the effects of climate change and variability (CCV); (iii) farmers who had access to livelihood assets effectively responded to CCV through diversification of adaptation strategies and involvement in high-return strategies; (iv) Inadequate extension services, inefficient supply of farm inputs, and limited inclusivity of poor farmers undermined the roles of formal institutions in supporting effective adaptation. The findings attest to the importance of thoroughly understanding the wider contexts in which adaptation strategies are implemented to ensure their effectiveness. Building the adaptive capacity of farmers through pro-poor measures opens opportunities for engagement in high-return adaptation strategies, thereby promoting the building of sustainable livelihoods by all farmers.

摘要

尽管大多数研究表明适应气候变化对农民生计产生积极影响，但并非所有策略都是有效的。本研究基于对埃塞俄比亚中部小农的定性研究，探讨了背景因素在促进或限制适应战略有效性方面的作用。结果表明，（i）严重依赖降雨的策略效果较差；(ii) 持有宿命论态度的农民采用以生存为导向的低回报策略，这些策略在保护他们免受气候变化和变率（CCV）影响方面效果较差；(iii) 获得生计资产的农民通过适应战略多样化和参与高回报战略，有效应对 CCV；(iv) 推广服务不足，农业投入供应效率低下，贫困农民的包容性有限，削弱了正式机构在支持有效适应方面的作用。研究结果证明了彻底了解适应战略实施的更广泛背景的重要性，以确保其有效性。通过扶贫措施建设农民的适应能力为参与高回报适应战略提供了机会，从而促进所有农民建立可持续生计。