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Farmers’ climate risk perception can shape the type of response mechanisms they used. This study intended to investigate how smallholder farmers in the Hulbarag area of Silte-Zone, central Ethiopia, perceive indicators of climate variability and the consequences that go along with them. Cross-sectional data and time-series meteorological data sets were collected and analysed. Sens’ slope estimator and the Mann–Kendall trend test were used to estimate the trends in temperature and rainfall. To examine farmers’ perceptions of climate variability indicators and the associated impacts, the weighted average index method and descriptive statistics were employed. Additionally, a binomial logistic regression model was used to identify the factors influencing farmers’ views of the climatic variability indicators. The result revealed that the Midland and Lowland areas showed statistically significant ( p < 0.05) decreasing trends in spring, summer, and yearly rainfall from 2002 to 2022. In the Lowland area, a statistically significant ( p <.01 and p < 0.05) decreasing trends in summer and annual rainfall were observed. The study found statistically significant increasing trends in the annual average maximum temperature in the Midland, Lowland, and Highland areas (at p <.01, p <.05, and p <.01, respectively). The study discovered a statistically significant ( p <.01) increasing trends in the yearly mean minimum temperature in the Midland and Highland areas. The finding confirmed that the majority of the farmers’ perceptions of a declining spring and summer season as well as annual rainfall trend were coincides with the historical local metrological records of the study area. Likewise, perceptions of an increasing spring and summer seasons as well as yearly mean maximum and minimum temperature trend coincides with the historical metrological records of the study area. Agro-ecological zone, Sex, and the degree of trust farmers have in local institutions ‘climate information all have a substantial impact on how they perceive indications of climatic variability. The majority of households believed that variations in rainfall and temperature had an adverse effect on the yields of maize and wheat. Hence, it is necessary to improve the credibility of information provided by local and national institutions so as to improve farmers’ views of climate variability indicators. Additionally, awareness-raising programs should be encouraged for all farming communities, including those headed by men and women.
Kerebo et al. (Tue,) studied this question.