IMPACTS OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY ON MAIZE (Zea mays L.) YIELD AND FARMERS’ ADAPTATION STRATEGIES IN KURFA CHELE DISTRICT OF EAST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA, ETHIOPIA

Rainfall and temperature variability is among the principal sources of variations in crop production in developing countries including Ethiopia. This study assessed the impacts of climate variability on maize (Zea mays L.) yield and farmers’ adaptation strategies in Kurfa Chele district. Climate data (1996-2016) and maize yield data (2001-2016) were acquired from the NMA of Ethiopia and KWANRO, respectively. Primary data was collected from 137 household heads, FGD and KII. Variability, trend and anomaly of climate variables were analyzed using INSTAT +3.37 and Mann-Kendall trend analysis while primary data of adaptation and farmers perception were analyzed by SPSS 20. The mean start of rainy seasons, length of growing period and end of the rainy seasons in Kurfa Chele district were 31st March, 178 days and 25th September respectively and belg onset was highly variable (CV=42%). Annual and kiremt rainfall amounts were found to increase by a factor of 2.45 and 1.64 mm/year, respectively and were insignificant at 5%. Conversely, the belg rainfall decreased by a factor of -0.8 and was insignificant. The maximum temperature showed increasing trend at annual, kiremt and belg periods by a factor of 0.046, 0.053 and 0.066 OC/year, respectively. Similarly, annual, kiremt and belg minimum temperatures showed increasing trend and were significant at 5%. The correlation of maize yield with rainfall and temperature parameters revealed that belg rainy days and kiremt rainy days have strong relationships with maize yield. The result of multiple regression showed that an increase in kiremt end date (-0.04 Kg/ha) and kiremt mean temperature (-2.57 Kg/ha) caused decrease in maize yield. Coefficient of determination indicates that climate features predict 79% the variation in maize yield. A majority (94%) of the respondents perceived increase in temperature and decrease in rainfall in the study area. Most commonly practiced adaptation strategies in the study area include soil and water conservation, mixed cropping, crop diversification and livestock rearing. Thus, it is essential to advance extension services to improve perception of climate variability and proper implementation of adaptation practices in the study area