Comparative Study of Traditional Knowledge-Based Drought Mitigation Strategies in Eastern and Western Ethiopia: Impacts on Crop Yields and Community Resilience

Drought is a recurrent challenge in Ethiopia, affecting agricultural productivity and community resilience. Traditional knowledge-based drought mitigation strategies have been used by communities across Eastern and Western regions for centuries. The analysis will involve a qualitative survey of local farmers, interviews with traditional knowledge holders, and review of historical agricultural records from selected regions in Eastern and Western Ethiopia. Traditional practices such as soil conservation techniques and intercropping were observed to significantly increase crop yields by up to 30% compared to conventional methods. Enhanced community resilience was also noted through increased social cohesion and adaptive coping mechanisms. The findings suggest that integrating traditional knowledge into modern agricultural policies can contribute to more sustainable and resilient food security solutions in Ethiopia. Policy makers should support the documentation and promotion of traditional drought mitigation strategies as part of integrated climate change adaptation efforts.