**2.2 Agro-ecological description**

Typically, Sidama is classified in to three distinctive ago-ecological zones [19, 20]:

**Figure 2.** *Map of the study area.*

*Climate Change in Ethiopia: Implication on Human Capital in Rural Community - Case Study… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.98993*

#### *2.2.1 'Qolla' (dry and hot tropical climatic zone)*

It's is semi-arid agro-ecological zone. This is one of agro-ecological zones this study considered. It is the low land and lies between 500 and 1500 m above sea level. Receiving mean annual 400–1000 mm and 20–30°C rainfall and temperature, respectively, this agro-ecological zone constitutes 30% of total land of Sidama. Economically, settlers of this agro-ecological zone practice agriculture. Here, farming is dominated by annual crops such as maize (known as Maize livelihood belt), sorghum, and haricot bean whereas coffee and chat are also practiced as cash crops in higher altitude (transitional zone to Woina Dega) of the zone. Furthermore, this agroecological zone is mainly known for its livestock production in Sidama. On the other hand, in Sidama the area is known for extended and persistent droughts and hence most of the households had been in chronic food insecurity [8, 21].

#### *2.2.2 'Woina Dega' (mid land, moist to humid, warm subtropical climate)*

By constituting 54% of total land of Sidama, 'Woina Dega' agro-ecological zone lies within 1500–2500 masl. Climatically, it receives 1000–1800 mm mean annual rainfall and its mean annual temperature is known to be ranged within 15–20°C. The economic activity of this zone in Sidama is similar with that of the low land but here farming is dominated mainly by perennial crops such as coffee, 'enset', chat (Catha Adulis), tomato, and maize.

Although it is not uncommon to practice livestock economy in this zone, the farming dominance resulted in to shortage of grazing lands and made it problematic and hence it remained as only a supplementary sub-sector of the agriculture.

Though densely populated, this agro-ecological zone known to contribute higher share of cash crops from Sidama zone to local, regional, national, and international markets. Compared with the lower latitude zone, this agro-ecological zone, particularly to its higher altitude, is more food secured in terms of production and access dimensions thanks to 'enset', predominantly produced in this zone, and cash crops (mainly coffee, chat, and peen appeal) that are the sources of cash to access foods from market.

#### *2.2.3 'Dega' (high lands, wet and cool temperate climate)*

Constituting 15% of the total area of Sidama land, this agro-ecological zone has the elevation of 2500–3500 m above sea level. Climatically, this this agro-ecological zone receives 1200–1800 mm mean annual rainfall and has mean annual temperature of 10–15°C. This is the agro-ecological zone where most Sidama's rivers including the largest river, River Ganale, rises and tributes to Wabishabele River in Somalia.

#### *2.2.3.1 Farming system and land use*

The districts have bimodal rainfall pattern with two cropping seasons, short rainy season Spring (*Belg*) extending from February to May and the main rainy season *summar* (*Kiremt*) from June to September. The *Belg* rains are mainly used for planting short cycle crops such as maize production and seed bed preparation for *the Kiremt* crops.

The *Kiremt* rains are used for planting of cereal crops like some grains and vegetable crops and are also responsible for the growth and development of perennial crops such as enset, coffee, pineapple, and ch'at.
