This study aimed to investigate changes in local climate, farmers' perception to the change and factors affecting perception of farmers to climate change. For trend analysis, we gathered station based rainfall records for the period 1978-2012, while for perception analysis survey was carried out. 600 farming households were randomly selected from four districts using a multi-stage sampling method. Nonparametric analysis was used for analyzing trends and testing significance. Farming households were asked their observation about changes in local climate using structured questionnaires. We also utilized logistic regression to identify factors that influenced perceptions of farming households on climate change. Results indicate that while annual rainfall showed no change across the region, Kiremt and Belg rainfalls exhibited significant increasing and decreasing trends in the last three decades respectively. The study confirmed that the change in rainfall trend varies by agro-ecology. Kiremt rainfall in the lowlands increased by about 106 mm/decade; yet, highlands got nonsignificant change. Besides, when the highlands lost significant amount of Belg rainfall (35 mm/d), lowlands didn't show any significant reduction. As to perception, about 87 and 50% of respondents perceived Belg and Kiremt rainfall decreasing respectively where their observation was more or less consistent with statistical findings. This study learned that gender, education, farm experience, extension, climate information, economic status, drought experience and local agro-ecology positively influenced farmers' perception. Yet, irrigation negatively affected farmers' perception. Results suggest further works in the areas of information dissemination, inclusion of local knowledge in adaptation programs and irrigation developments to reduce impacts.

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Flood‐based farming is a means of improving crop production in rain‐deficit lowlands. Such spate irrigation systems are growing in importance, although the effects of headwater hydrological deficit on downstream flood farming are lacking evidence. This study investigates the impacts of headwater hydrological deficit on the extent of spate‐irrigated agriculture in the Guguf spate system. The length of canals and area of spate‐irrigated agriculture to the right and left of the Guguf River for the 1980s and 2010s were tracked using a global positioning system and mapped in a geographic information system interface, while climate data were collected from National Meteorological Agency. Trends of selected hydroclimatic variables were analysed using linear regression and the Pettitt test. The flash floods have shrunk by 7.36 × 106 m3, as a result of which the length of canals and area of spate‐based farms declined by 1.37 km and 1540 ha, i.e. 35 and 57.5%, respectively, in only three decades. This corresponds to an average withdrawal of −44.0 ha yr‾¹. A single 1 million m3 decline in flash floods caused a 366.4 ha decline in spate‐based farms. Moreover, farm fields located next to the river course are less affected, compared to those at the tail of the scheme. If the current trend continues, there is a high risk that the remaining farms currently receiving floods may find themselves outside of the spate systems. Therefore, we suggest that flood management technologies are needed to optimize the efficiency of soil moisture in the spate system. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Drought has become a major challenge in many Sub‐Saharan Africa countries. This study aimed to investigate the precipitation trends and drought incidents in the semi‐closed Raya graben in Ethiopia. Monthly precipitation records of nine meteorological stations for the years 1980–2016 were studied. The spatio‐temporal drought conditions were analysed using Man‐Kendall and Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) techniques. A decreasing trend of precipitation was observed during the spring season (March−May) (p < 0.01). Many meteorological drought years were identified since 1980, occurring at varying temporal frequencies. Similarly, agricultural drought was occurring continuously for 1−5 years at an interval of five years. Our results also showed major hydrological droughts that persisted for 2−4 years occurring at an interval of five years. Almost all stations experienced an average intensity of moderate and above drought conditions during their agricultural and hydrological drought periods. Drought risk increased with the growing frequency of extreme drought events occurring every 14 months. Spatially, the southern and eastern parts were found to be more vulnerable to frequent, intense and longer drought conditions as compared to the western graben escarpment. Therefore, building adaptive capacity to climate change and extreme events is recommended to reduce the consequences of drought incidents in the Raya graben and northern Ethiopia.

&lt;p&gt;Agriculture remains the dominant source of food production and the livelihood foundation for majority of the rural poor in the sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Access to agricultural-water is, however, a limitation hindering crop productivity and end food insecurity in the drylands. In rain-deficit lowlands such as in the Raya-valley, flood-based farming is a means of improving crop production. Such spate irrigation systems grow in importance; though the effects of headwater hydrological deficit on flood-farming systems are lacking evidence. The present work investigates the impacts of headwater hydrological deficit on spate-irrigated agriculture in Tsge&amp;#8217;a spate systems. Canal length and area of spate-irrigated agriculture along Guguf river for the 1980s and 2010s were tracked using Global Positioning System; while runoff trend analysed using linear regression. Annual volume of flash-flood shrunk by 7.36x10&lt;sup&gt;6&lt;/sup&gt; m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;. This is mainly due to changing climate and increasing water retention by the soil and humans at the escarpment. As a result, length of canals and area of spate-based farms downstream declined by 1.37 km (35%) and 1540 ha (57.5%), respectively, only in three decades time. This corresponds to an average withdrawal of -44 ha yr&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;. A 1x10&lt;sup&gt;6&lt;/sup&gt; m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt; decline in flash-flood caused a 366.4 ha decline in spate-based farms. Moreover, farm fields located next to the river course are less affected, as compared to farms on the tail of the scheme. If the current trend continues, there is likely a high risk that the remaining farms currently receiving flood may run out of spate systems. Therefore, flood management technologies are needed to optimize the efficiency of soil moisture in the spate system.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The abstract is based on Negash, E., Gebresamuel, G., Embaye, T., Nguvulu, A., Meaza, H., Gebrehiwot, M., Demisse, B., Gebreyohannes, T., Nyssen, J., &amp; Zenebe, A. (2020). Impact of headwater hydrological deficit on the downstream flood-based farming system in northern Ethiopia. &lt;em&gt;Irrigation and Drainage&lt;/em&gt;, In Press.&lt;/p&gt;