Bespoke Adaptation in Rural Africa? An Asset-Based Approach from Southern Ethiopia

TY - JOUR

T1 - Bespoke Adaptation in Rural Africa? An Asset-Based Approach from Southern Ethiopia

AU - Kidane, Rahwa

AU - Prowse, Martin

AU - de Neergaard, Andreas

PY - 2019/7/1

Y1 - 2019/7/1

N2 - Debates on adaptation in rural Africa rarely consider how responses to climate variability vary by wealth group. This study examines differences across wealth groups based on principal component analysis and cluster analysis triangulated with participatory methods. Results indicate that perceptions of weather variability and extreme events are detected by most households regardless of wealth status. The most common responses—using drought-resistant crops and changing planting dates—are also similar across groups. However, there are significant differences in the type of adaptation options adopted by wealthier and poorer farmers: the former intensify agriculture through improved seed varieties, fertiliser and manure; the latter depend on craft activities, seasonal migration and support from relatives and neighbours. Overall, our findings suggest that measuring asset holdings could allow a differentiated approach to supporting adaptation across socio-economic groups in rural regions in Ethiopia and Africa more broadly.

AB - Debates on adaptation in rural Africa rarely consider how responses to climate variability vary by wealth group. This study examines differences across wealth groups based on principal component analysis and cluster analysis triangulated with participatory methods. Results indicate that perceptions of weather variability and extreme events are detected by most households regardless of wealth status. The most common responses—using drought-resistant crops and changing planting dates—are also similar across groups. However, there are significant differences in the type of adaptation options adopted by wealthier and poorer farmers: the former intensify agriculture through improved seed varieties, fertiliser and manure; the latter depend on craft activities, seasonal migration and support from relatives and neighbours. Overall, our findings suggest that measuring asset holdings could allow a differentiated approach to supporting adaptation across socio-economic groups in rural regions in Ethiopia and Africa more broadly.

KW - Adaptation

KW - Africa

KW - Ethiopia

KW - Smallholders

KW - Wealth groups

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85050954316&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1057/s41287-018-0161-4

DO - 10.1057/s41287-018-0161-4

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85050954316

SN - 0957-8811

VL - 31

SP - 413

EP - 432

JO - European Journal of Development Research

JF - European Journal of Development Research

IS - 3

ER -