Perceptions and choices of adaptation measures for climate change among teff (Eragrostis tef) farmers of Southeast Tigray, Ethiopia

This study was conducted in Southeast Tigray of Ethiopia using teff (Eragrostis tef) producing farmers. Teff production with regards to climate change has significant implications on food security and poverty in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to analyze factors influencing choice of adaptation strategies among teff farmers in Ethiopia. A stratified simple random sampling technique was employed to select 210 farm households as respondents from the three agro-ecological zones of the highlands of Endamehoni, and midlands and lowlands of Raya Azebo. A multivariate model was used to analyze the data obtained from farm households. The study found that from the sixteen predictor variables fitted in the model, nine variables including age, education of household head, household size, distance to produce market, farm to farm extension services, access to credit facilities, average temperature, climate information on weather and climate and agro ecology have significant influence on adaptation strategies with model coefficients at p=0.05 or less. It is therefore, recommended that policies of government on adaptation to climate change should be given emphasis in order to enhance the adaptive capacity of teff farming community.  Key words: Teff, climate change, adaptation, Southeast Tigray, Ethiopia.