Effects of adaptation to climate change on income of cattle owners in the pastoral and agro-pastoral communities of Northern Ethiopia

The varying circumstances driven by climate threats and the consequences posed on the environment and humans of dry-land regions, where pastorals and agro-pastorals dominantly live have become the prior policy concerns in Africa. Hence, this study was tended to investigate the effects of various adaptation measures on the income level of pastorals and agro-pastorals in northern Ethiopia. Data were gathered using semi-structured questionnaires including qualitative ideas obtained from group discussants and key informants. The study revealed that repeated droughts caused by climate change left the pastorals and agro-pastorals with herd decimation due to lack of animal feed. In responding this, they applied various adaptation actions such as water harvesting schemes; fodder production, feed purchase, migration, livestock diversification and animal restocking. Using such measures, cattle owners generated income from livestock, cropping, sales of fuel-wood, agricultural wages, remittance and relief aid. Thus, it is concluded that sustainable income creation via various adaptation methods is an important pathway to enable the pastoral and agro-pastoral communities while they respond to the adverse effects of climatic change