interview
our questions in an understandable way.
First, I didn’t have any experience with the
local residents, and second, we are working
in a minority area, so they speak a different
language and not everyone speaks the
national language so well.
Zerihun: In this research project, I examine
how smallholders perceive current climate
variability and how they respond through
local adaptation measures, which can serve
as useful input for integrated and sustainable
adaptation strategies.
What is the most fun part of the project?
What was the most fun part of your
research project?
Chi: I led two focus groups myself, where we
had women come together and speak about
the challenges they face. In the beginning,
these women were very shy and very reluctant
to speak out. But as I started the discussion,
the women became more vocal and started to
give their ideas and feedback. In the end, we
had a very active discussion and everyone was
very open and freely gave their opinions.
If you had the power to decide on one
concrete climate change action - what
action or measure would you take?
Chi: This is an ongoing research project, so
we don’t have the final results. But based on
what we have seen so far, I think it is very
important to provide training and financial
support to enable rural farmers to adapt to
climate change. So if I had the power, I would
train farmers in rural areas and support them
financially.
Zerihun Berhane | Climate Variability and
Livelihood Diversification in Northern
Ethiopia – A Case Study of Lasta and
Beyeda Districts
Can you summarise your research project in
one sentence?
Zerihun: Learning from farmers some
interesting indicators of climate variability
and change. For instance the number of days
it takes for a local bread to grow mold is such
an indicator. This may seem simplistic but
actually is very important to see the effects of
climate change at the local level.
What result(s) do you think was important
in your project?
Zerihun: The agricultural sector is crucial in
Ethiopia—it employs 85% of the population.
Climate change will have a harsh impact on
agriculture and thus food security. Ethiopia
has already been affected by climate
variability and has for decades experienced
a series of extreme weather events like
droughts.
My project thus assessed to what extent
livelihood diversification can serve as an
adaptation strategy. In particular, I wanted
to find out how smallholders’ perceptions
of climate variability correspond with
meteorological data, as well as how existing
diversification strategies could be a suitable
basis for long-term adaptation to climate
change.
If you had the power to decide on one
concrete climate change action - what
action or measure would you take?
Zerihun: Since we seem to be unable to reduce
our greenhouse gas emissions in the short
term, I think that we should build on current
autonomous adaptation measures, that is,
measures that local people and smallholders
in vulnerable countries like Ethiopia are
already taking. That is a cost-effective and
efficient way of adapting to climate change.
Moreover, adaptation measures should be
integrated with social protection to enhance
the resilience of people to the impacts of
climate change.
If you want to find out more about Zerihun’s
research, read more at: https://blog.
geographydirections.com/2016/06/20/
climate-variability-and-livelihooddiversification-in-northern-ethiopia-a-casestudy-of-lasta-and-beyeda-districts/
Weldegebriel, Z. B. and Prowse, M.
(2016), Climate variability and livelihood
diversification in northern Ethiopia: a case
study of Lasta and Beyeda districts. The
Geographical Journal. doi: 10.1111/geoj.12178.
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