Are farmers’ climate change adaptation strategies understated? Evidence from two communities in Northern Ethiopian Highlands

This study analysed the livelihood strategies of rural households and determinants of their choices for climate change adaptation using Harresaw and Shumsheha communities in the Tigray and Amhara regions respectively. A case study approach and mixed research methods were used to answer the research questions.

The results of the study showed that farm-level adjustments were still a primary choice of climate adaptation strategies among rural households in both study areas. Households in Harresaw adopted most of the farm-level adaptation strategies. However, non-farm strategies such as wage employment, business activities and migration were used either when households faced constraints in using farm-level adjustment practices or when infrastructures and services for non-farm livelihoods were relatively favourable, as was the case in Shumsheha.