Assessing Local Farmers’ Perception of Climate Change in Nejdo District, West Wollega, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of watershed management on climate change adaptation in the Nedjo District, West Wollega Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study combined quantitative data collection through household surveys, analyzed using SPSS version 26, with qualitative methods such as focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Meteorological data (1991-2021) from the National Meteorological Agency (NMA) was analyzed using XLSTAT 2015, specifically employing the Mann-Kendall trend test for analyzing rainfall and temperature trends. The findings reveal that 57.12% of the respondents are aware of climate change, with 55.93% perceiving changes in rainfall patterns and 65.25% observing changes in temperature, corroborated by the meteorological data analysis, which showed an increasing trend in annual rainfall and significant increases in both maximum and minimum temperatures. The study also identified a gender disparity in participation in watershed management activities, with male respondents comprising 82% of the total sample. The study concludes by recommending the strengthening of climate information dissemination, the promotion of climate-smart agricultural practices, addressing gender disparities, and the enhancement of local governance for effective climate change adaptation.