Determinants of climate information source use among households in Ethiopia using evidence from the Ethiopian socioeconomic survey

Climate change is a significant threat to agriculture-related livelihoods. In response, climate information sources (CIS) play a critical role in strengthening farmers’ resilience to climate change and improving agricultural decision-making. However, empirical evidence on household use of CIS in Ethiopia remains limited. This study examined the determinants of households’ use of climate information sources in Ethiopia. The analysis used secondary data from the fifth wave of the Ethiopian Socioeconomic Survey, collected between September 2021 and June 2022. Descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model were used to examine patterns and determinants of the use of climate information sources. The findings indicated that only 39.1% of households reported using at least one source to obtain climate information, while 60.9% reported no use. Although this represents a substantial improvement over the use of CIS reported in earlier Ethiopian studies, the findings indicate that the use of climate information sources remains limited among the majority of households. Radio and television were the major communication channels for disseminating climate information, reported by 85.81% of households, indicating the continued importance of media in climate information dissemination. The results of logistic regression indicate that the sex of the household head, residence, educational level, mobile phone ownership, and regional location were significantly associated with use of CIS. Marginal effects revealed that female-headed households were 16.0% less likely to use CIS than male-headed households. Urban residence and mobile phone ownership were 23.9% and 10.7% more likely to use CIS, respectively, while each additional year of education level increased the probabilities of using CIS by 0.2%. Significant regional disparities were also found, with households in Oromia, Amhara, and Dire Dawa being 28.6, 17.2, and 18.4% points more likely to use CIS, respectively. The study suggests that relevant stakeholders and policymakers strengthen communication infrastructure, improve digital inclusion, and promote region-specific strategies for disseminating climate information, which are essential for increasing households’ use of climate information sources in Ethiopia. Clinical trial number : Not applicable