Farmers’ climate perceptions are responsible for shaping their adaptive responses and are thus essential to consider for the design of strategies to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience. In this study, we collected social data in four communities in the central Ethiopian Highlands on farmers’ climate perceptions and adaptations using group discussions and PRA tools. We related these to climate data spanning 30 years (1981 to 2010), consisting of daily minimum temperature, maximum temperature and precipitation, modelled for the four communities using global databases and regional meteorological data. We found that farmers’ climate perceptions showed considerable spatial and gender differences. Perceptions matched well with records describing climate variability, particularly in terms of the shortening and the increased variability of the rainy season, as well as the occurrence of extreme drought in recent years. Climate change, described by long-term average increases in temperature and decreases in precipitation, was perceived, but with subordinate priority. Perceived climate impacts included reduced crop yield, increased occurrence of pests and diseases and increased crop damage by extreme events and poverty. Adaptations were mainly land based and included agronomic measures, land management and ecosystem restoration. Furthermore, important gender differences in adaptation could be traced back to typical gender roles. Results highlight the risk of broadcast adaptation programs, such as the government-propagated combination of mineral fertilizers and early maturing crop varieties. Most importantly, they point to the need to consider climate variability, site- and gender-specific perceptions and priorities.

中文翻译：

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农民的看法和匹配的气候记录共同解释了埃塞俄比亚塔纳湖周围四个社区的适应反应

农民的气候感知负责塑造他们的适应性反应，因此对于设计减少脆弱性和提高复原力的战略至关重要。在这项研究中，我们使用小组讨论和 PRA 工具在埃塞俄比亚中部高地的四个社区收集了有关农民气候感知和适应的社会数据。我们将这些与跨越 30 年（1981 年至 2010 年）的气候数据相关联，包括每日最低温度、最高温度和降水，使用全球数据库和区域气象数据为四个社区建模。我们发现农民的气候感知显示出相当大的空间和性别差异。感知与描述气候变率的记录相吻合，尤其是雨季的缩短和变率增加，以及近年来发生的极端干旱。气候变化以长期平均温度升高和降水减少来描述，被认为是次要的。感知到的气候影响包括作物产量下降、病虫害发生率增加以及极端事件和贫困对作物造成的损害增加。适应主要是基于土地的，包括农艺措施、土地管理和生态系统恢复。此外，适应方面的重要性别差异可以追溯到典型的性别角色。结果突出了广播适应计划的风险，例如政府宣传的矿物肥料和早熟作物品种的组合。最重要的是，