Impact of climate drivers on pastoral & crop production in Ethiopia

The policy brief “Aligned climate drivers and potential impacts on food security in Ethiopia in 2024” (2024, 12pp) by Adrian Cullis and Solomon Bogale et al, published by the SPARC (Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crises) programme, examines the impacts of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) climate drivers. These have caused variable rainfall and localised drought and thus affected the food security of people practising pastoralism and rainfed farming.

Alignments of these two drivers during several periods in the last two decades led to poor or failed rains in different zones of Ethiopia, seriously affecting pastoral and crop production and creating increased need for humanitarian assistance. In 2023, abnormally heavy rains led to the worst flooding in 40 years in Ethiopia’s southern pastoral areas. This is forecast to continue into 2024, at the same time as a severe drought is expected in the central and northern highlands.

The authors recommend that the Ethiopia Disaster Risk Management Commission set up a specialist ENSO–IOD unit so that the country can be better prepared for adequate emergency response in both the pastoral lowlands and the highland areas.

This full policy brief can be found here and a 2-page summary here – and on the SPARC website.

Posted on 27 March 2024 in Pastoralism & Climate Change, Pastoralism & Natural Resources