Climate variability and its implications on the production of Arabica coffee in Abe Dongoro district of Horro Guduru Wollega Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

The agricultural industry, especially the production of coffee arabica, is significantly impacted by climate fluctuation in the world.  As a result, the objective of this study was to evaluate how the climate impacts coffee production and trends, climate variability, and farmer adaptation techniques in Abe Dongoro area of Horro Guduru Wollega Zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia. Primary data were collected using household surveys and interviews, and secondary data were collected through documentary reviews and meteorological data. To choose a total of 116 respondents, five kebeles in the study district were purposefully chosen. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the recorded variables. The outcome showed that over the previous ten years (2008-2018), coffee production has decreased along with both rainfall and temperature. The concept of climate variability varied across farmers, and nearly half of them (49.1%) described it as an extended dry season. The other respondents (32.8%) understood it as a decrease in rainfall, while 18.1% of respondents viewed it as an increase in temperature and rainfall variability. Mulching was the most common adaptation practice used by farmers to reduce evaporation (32.8%) followed by terracing to minimize soil erosion (6.9%),and planting shade trees to reduce increased temperature (23.3%). The study concluded that coffee production has shown a decreasing trend over the last ten years, and trends in rainfall and temperature also indicated variability which would affect coffee production. Further investigation may be required for more conclusive result.