Coffee farming in Ethiopian hillside regions is significantly impacted by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to deforestation and intensive cultivation practices. This study aims to explore effective strategies for reducing GHG emissions among coffee farmers. A longitudinal approach was adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with 50 randomly selected coffee farmers from different socioeconomic backgrounds across three hillside districts. Data collection utilised thematic analysis to identify patterns in farmer responses and their adoption of mitigation strategies. The findings indicate that agroforestry practices have shown a significant potential for carbon sequestration, with an average increase in soil organic carbon levels by 15% over the study period. This longitudinal analysis reveals the effectiveness of integrating agroforestry into coffee farming systems as a viable strategy to mitigate GHG emissions. The results underscore the need for policy support and farmer education in promoting sustainable practices. Local governments should prioritise funding for research on climate-resilient agricultural technologies, including agroforestry models. Additionally, there is a strong recommendation for more targeted extension services to facilitate wider adoption of these strategies among coffee farmers.
Teklehaimbel et al. (Sun,) studied this question.