Impacts of Climate Change on Adaptation Strategies among Agro-Pastoral Households in Harorey District, Somali Region, Ethiopia

This study assessed the impacts of climate change on adaptation strategies among agro-pastoral households in Harorey District, Somali Region, Ethiopia. Data were collected from 355 households using structured questionnaires to examine socio-demographic characteristics, perceptions of climate change, its effects on crop and livestock production, and adaptation practices. The results indicate that most households (65.9%) have experienced climate-related challenges, with water shortages, decreased productivity, and feed scarcity as the most significant impacts. Changes in rainfall (68.3%) and temperature (76.9%) were widely perceived as key factors affecting agricultural performance. These findings point to the urgent need for targeted interventions to support these communities in adapting to climate change. Enhancing access to water resources and improving agricultural practices could significantly mitigate the adverse effects on both crop yields and livestock health. We also observed impacts on environmental degradation and livelihood, with nearly half of respondents reporting deteriorated rangeland conditions and 43.7% noting reduced livestock sales. Poverty, limited climate information, and land scarcity were the main barriers to adopting adaptation strategies. Logistic regression analysis revealed that gender, age, land ownership, household decision-making, perceived climate impacts, and production changes significantly influenced adaptation behaviors. The study recommends enhancing access to climate information, promoting gender-inclusive decision-making, supporting sustainable land and livestock management, and strengthening local climate monitoring systems to improve resilience.