Towards improving smallholder agriculture : role of climate information services in Ethiopia
(2012) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM01 20121LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
- Abstract
- Several studies have suggested effective climate information outreach is invaluable for smallholders’ decision-making on farming operations as a viable strategy to cope with extreme effects of climate change and increased productivity. Starting with the review of development and agriculture issues, this thesis seeks to investigate the knowledge and practice of improved agro-ecological techniques as well as roles of actors and access to information communication technology options among smallholders. It also aims for better understanding of what would constitute an improved role for climate information in the context of agricultural advices to sustaining agricultural production and food security in Ethiopia. With recognitions of enabling... (More)
- Several studies have suggested effective climate information outreach is invaluable for smallholders’ decision-making on farming operations as a viable strategy to cope with extreme effects of climate change and increased productivity. Starting with the review of development and agriculture issues, this thesis seeks to investigate the knowledge and practice of improved agro-ecological techniques as well as roles of actors and access to information communication technology options among smallholders. It also aims for better understanding of what would constitute an improved role for climate information in the context of agricultural advices to sustaining agricultural production and food security in Ethiopia. With recognitions of enabling soft- and hard-infrastructure facilities in time and space dimensions, this thesis hypothesizes that appropriate climate information enhances smallholders’ ability to effectively mitigate the adverse effects of climate change which hamper their farming. Percentage comparisons, based on responses from households are performed. Knowledge and practice levels of improved agro-ecological techniques, the roles of actors, access to information and communication technology are also plotted. My results suggest smallholders have low knowledge and practice levels of improved agro-ecological techniques. Moreover, family-ties play important roles for knowledge transfers, with both the household and farming managements being highly skewed in favor of men and selective technical supports from extension officers. Low or no access to information communication technology options also account for low adoption of the techniques, which in turn contributes to low agricultural productivity. Moreover, the identification (at niche-, micro, meso-, macro- and exo-levels) of stakeholders forms the basis for distilling concrete recommendations to improve agricultural operations and institutional efficiency. Acknowledging the efforts made so far, the government of Ethiopia should take the initiative to create a gender-balanced and ground-reaching enabling environment for institutions and stakeholders involved in climate information outreach programs. This, undoubtedly, supports development of successful and resilient adaptation strategies to smallholders and the agriculture sector in Ethiopia. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/3165518
- author
- Gessei, Mulugeta Mallede LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- MESM01 20121
- year
- 2012
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- climate information, smallholders, development, agriculture, food security, information and communication technology, Sub-Saharan Africa., sustainability science, climate change impacts
- publication/series
- Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
- report number
- 2012:030
- language
- English
- id
- 3165518
- date added to LUP
- 2012-11-07 14:55:08
- date last changed
- 2012-11-26 10:22:39
@misc{3165518,
abstract = {{Several studies have suggested effective climate information outreach is invaluable for smallholders’ decision-making on farming operations as a viable strategy to cope with extreme effects of climate change and increased productivity. Starting with the review of development and agriculture issues, this thesis seeks to investigate the knowledge and practice of improved agro-ecological techniques as well as roles of actors and access to information communication technology options among smallholders. It also aims for better understanding of what would constitute an improved role for climate information in the context of agricultural advices to sustaining agricultural production and food security in Ethiopia. With recognitions of enabling soft- and hard-infrastructure facilities in time and space dimensions, this thesis hypothesizes that appropriate climate information enhances smallholders’ ability to effectively mitigate the adverse effects of climate change which hamper their farming. Percentage comparisons, based on responses from households are performed. Knowledge and practice levels of improved agro-ecological techniques, the roles of actors, access to information and communication technology are also plotted. My results suggest smallholders have low knowledge and practice levels of improved agro-ecological techniques. Moreover, family-ties play important roles for knowledge transfers, with both the household and farming managements being highly skewed in favor of men and selective technical supports from extension officers. Low or no access to information communication technology options also account for low adoption of the techniques, which in turn contributes to low agricultural productivity. Moreover, the identification (at niche-, micro, meso-, macro- and exo-levels) of stakeholders forms the basis for distilling concrete recommendations to improve agricultural operations and institutional efficiency. Acknowledging the efforts made so far, the government of Ethiopia should take the initiative to create a gender-balanced and ground-reaching enabling environment for institutions and stakeholders involved in climate information outreach programs. This, undoubtedly, supports development of successful and resilient adaptation strategies to smallholders and the agriculture sector in Ethiopia.}},
author = {{Gessei, Mulugeta Mallede}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
title = {{Towards improving smallholder agriculture : role of climate information services in Ethiopia}},
year = {{2012}},
}