EFFECT OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY ON MAIZE (Zea mays L.) AND ENSET (Ensete Ventricosum) PRODUCTION AND THE PERCEPTION OF FARMERS IN SODO DISTRICT OF GURAGE ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

This study was conducted in Sodo District of Gurage Zone, located in Southern Ethiopia. The main objective of the study was to examine the effect of climate variability on maize and Enset production and synthesize farmers` perception towards climate variability in the study area. Particular emphasis was given to examine the variability and trends of key climate variables, noticeably, rainfall and temperatures variation. Climate variability was examined and discussed in this study, emphasizing its influence over the fluctuation of maize and Enset yields in Sodo district. Seasonal and annual data of rainfall, maximum and minimum temperatures were analysed jointly with maize and Enset yields in 1995-2014 and 1987-2014, respectively. Bivariate correlation and linear regression models were used in describing the relationship between crop yields, rainfall, and temperatures. The results showed a significant low but an increasing trend in both seasonal and annual mean temperatures (minimum and maximum). In contrast, annual and seasonal rainfall showed a slight significant decreasing trend in this study area. The simple relationship of climate variables (rainfall and temperature) with maize and Enset crop yields revealed that temperature influenced crop yield variability much more rainfall. But the combined effect of climate variables (rainfall and temperature) on crop yields was explained more the Enset than maize yields variation in Sodo district. The result showed that variability in rainfall and temperature has been very phenomenal to explain Enset than maize yields variation in the study district. On the other hand, the perception of farmers towards the climate variability, majority of the farmers perceived increase in temperature and a decrease in rainfall. The study finds that there are nearly unified perceptions of climate variability among sample households including the gender and social groups. The analysis showed that farmer’s perceptions towards climate variability are significantly in line with the climatic data records.