Agroecosystem Based Climate Variability Change Vulnerability Adaptation Analysis And Erosion Hazard Assessment In Finchaa Sub Basin Blue Nile Basin Ethiopia

Agroecosystem based Climate Variability and Change Vulnerability & Adaptation Analysis, andrnErosion Hazard Assessment in Fincha’a sub basin, Blue Nile Basin, EthiopiarnIsrael Tessema Lewte, Addis Ababa University, 2019rnThe objective of the study is to analyze the agroecosystems of Fincha’a sub basin and theirrnclimate variability and change vulnerability, and to examine how smallholder farmers of the subrnbasin have perceived and adapted to climate variability and change. The study is based onrnhousehold and field-level primary data collected from 380 farm households in the Highland,rnMidland, Wetland (seasonally waterlogged), and Lowland agroecosystems of the Fincha’a subbasin. The LVI approach framed within IPCC is customized for the agro-ecosystem specificrnvulnerability analysis and the RUSLE model utilized to study the level of erosion hazard.rnPrimarily, agro-ecosystem analysis conducted in collaboration with experts, developmentrnagents, and local communities; and four distinct agroecosystems (Highland, Midland, Wetlandrn(seasonally waterlogged), and Lowland) identified. Then, the identified agroecosystemsrnexamined in light of their potential for agricultural production and the challenge presented byrnclimate variability and change. Based on the vulnerability analysis, the study found that thernlowland AES exhibited higher exposure, low adaptive capacity, and high vulnerability while thernmidland AES demonstrated lower exposure, higher adaptive capacity, and lower vulnerability.rnThe wetland and highland AESs scored intermediate results. Investigation of the perception andrnadaptation strategy of smallholder farmers identified that majority of the community perceivedrnthere is climate variability and change. However, the adaptation measures implemented untilrnnow are not adequate to meet the impending challenges situate by climate variability andrnchange. The result from the erosion hazard analysis revealed that the potential annual soil lossrnof the watershed ranges from 0.0 to 350.93 t ha-1 yr-1rnand the average annual soil loss for thernwhole watershed anticipated at 37.54 t ha-1 yr-1rn. Despite significant number of farmers’rnperceived climate variability and change, the number of farmers adopted certain adaptationrnmeasures that minimizes their vulnerability are below average. These necessitate the need forrnplanned interventions to identify and support effective adaptation measures. Furthermore, offfarm, non-farm, and watershed based appropriate soil and water conservation strategies shouldrnbe enhanced by fostering the enforcement of scientific land use.rnKeywords: Agro-ecosystem, Climate changes, Vulnerability, Adaptation, Soil erosion hazard, Watershed

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