IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE & FOOD SYSTEM

Climate change in Ethiopia has transitioned from a projected risk to an everyday reality, particu larly for smallholder farmers whose livelihoods mainly dependent rain-fed agricultural system. Recent empirical studies show that smallholder farmers experience progressively erratic rainfall, increased frequency of drought, and rising temperatures, all of which lowers agricultural pro ductivity and household nutrition outcomes (Teklu et al., 2024; Belay et al., 2022).

For example, in qualitative surveys, farmers commonly report shifts in seasonal onset and cessation of rainfall, prevalence of flood and drought and increased temperature from time to time. This is consistent with broader meteorological trends in the Horn of Africa (C-ADAPT, 2018). Such climate shocks disproportionately threaten rural food systems, destabilizing crop productivity and household dietary diversity and dietary quality.

Despite growing awareness of environmental changes, many rural communities similar to the reported high awareness in Adami Tulu Gido Kombolcha struggle with an “adaptation deficit”, wherein awareness does not translate into effective resilience. T

his gap reflects structural con straints such as limited access to credit, land fragmentation, and deficient localized climate information, which are recurrently documented in Ethiopian settings (Belay et al., 2022). The present policy brief explores climate change awareness and action paradox and its direct link age with food security outcomes in ATGK Woreda.

This policy brief specifically emphasizes the urgent need for policies that support transformative adaptation strategies rather than reactive coping.

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE & FOOD SYSTEM