The main objective of this study was to access smallholder farmers’ perception of climate change and their response in adoption of climate adaptation strategies in the case of Karat Zuria Woreda, Konso Zone, Ethiopia. The totals of 153 farmers from three kebeles were randomly selected. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire survey, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and field observations. Smallholder farmers’ perception of climate changes and their response in the adoption of adaptation strategies were presented by frequency table. The results show that most of the interviewed farmers perceived an increase in erratic rainfall, frequent occurrence of heat induced crop diseases, frequent occurrence of animal disease and weed infestation. Also, majority of the respondents perceived an increase in the shortening of the rainy season, an incidence of a scarcity of water, and an increase in higher temperatures in the past decade (2009-2019). Also, the majority of the respondents use climate adaptation strategies such as improved fodder crops, agroforestry and destocking. Thus, government and NGOs need to design interventions aimed at providing irrigation facilities, prioritizing dissemination of timely weather information, encouraging farmers’ cooperatives, and provision of rural credit services.

Keywords: Adoption, Adaptation strategies, Climate variability/change, Perception of climate change.