Assessing the perceptions of local communities on rainfall characteristics, variability and future change: a case study of Sinana District, South Eastern Ethiopia

Assessment of the local community’s perception on rainfall variability and future change has enormous advantages in the study district, where natural rainfall is the main source of water for crop production. This study was conducted to assess the perception of local communities on rainfall characteristics, variability and future change. A proportional size method of the total population was used to determine 161 sample respondents. Systematic random sampling techniques was employed to select respondents from the selected kebelle for interview. Hence, the analysis of perception of farmers on climate related hazard indicated that excess rainfall, drought and erratic rainfall were the major identified risks for full and partial crop failure in addition to increased crop disease and weed infestation in the study area. The result generated from current trend analysis somewhat agreed with farmers perception. Moreover, the study revealed that spider web, cold air, cloud movement and group of stars seen on the sky were the signs and signals identified by local communities which indicates whether the coming season will experience excessive or deficit rainfall. Climate related hazard is a key factor which frequently quoted as the main cause for crop failure over the study area. Hence, use of climate information, improved variety, land and crop management practices are recommended to offset climate related risks on crop production under the changing climate at Hora-Boqa Peasant Association (kebelle).