Page 160 - AJWEP-22-4

Deresse, et al.

temperature, fertile soil, access to high-quality native study area to support informed decision-making by
planting materials, and favorable rainfall. However, farmers and policymakers. The specific study objectives
3,4
as climate change progresses, previously unsuitable are to (i) analyze the biophysical and socioeconomic
areas for coffee farming may become viable, prompting factors determining optimal land suitability for coffee
an upslope migration to cooler regions. This shift will production; (ii) classify land areas based on their level
5
require adjustments and the development of new coffee- of suitability for coffee production; and (iii) develop a
growing areas, with altitudes above 2000 m becoming spatial optimal land suitability map for coffee farming
more favorable, while lower altitudes may decline. 6 in the study area.
Ethiopia’s highland areas face intense population
pressure, driving demand for agricultural land and 2. Methods
causing land disputes and resource degradation. This
7,8
situation underscores the importance of land suitability 2.1. Study area
evaluations for effective land management and 2.1.1. Location
planning. Several factors, such as climate, land cover, The Abaya District is one of 10 districts in the West
9
soil characteristics, elevation, and slope, may influence Guji Zone of Oromia, Ethiopia. The Abaya District is
crop production, including coffee. Identifying suitable located 365 km south of Addis Ababa, between latitudes
10
areas based on these factors is essential for profitable 6°10’N – 6°20’N and longitudes 38°00’E – 38°10’E
and sustainable agriculture, as improper practices (Figure 1). It is bordered by the Southern Nations to the
and inadequate research can hinder productivity. north and east, Lake Abaya to the west, and the Gelana
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Likewise, inadequate crop handling technology, weak District to the south. 23
collaboration among producers, and reduced planting The Gelana District is located in the West Guji Zone,
areas contribute to low coffee profitability. In addition, about 470 km south of Addis Ababa, between latitudes
12
poor crop management and planting in unsuitable places 5°40’E – 6°20’E and longitudes 37°50’N – 38°10’N
can lead to reduced productivity. 13 (Figure 1). It borders the Amaro District to the south,
The Guji coffee area, encompassing Abaya and Bule Hora and Burji Districts to the southeast, the Gedio
Gelana Districts, is a significant coffee-producing Zone to the north and northwest, the Abaya District to
area in Ethiopia. It is known for its predominantly the northwest, Lake Abaya to the west, and the Nech Sar
14
agricultural landscape and favorable elevations (1075 National Park and Gamo Gofa Zone to the southwest. 24
– 2511 m), ideal for high-quality coffee production.
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However, coffee production is challenged by climate 2.1.2. Climate and socioeconomic characteristics
change, weather variability, soil degradation, water The Abaya District has two agro-climatic zones –
scarcity, and technological limitations, such as limited mid-highlands (40%) and lowlands (60%) – located
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modern farming techniques, poor infrastructure, and 1104 – 2305 m above sea level. The average annual
market fluctuations. temperature ranges from 25.1°C to 30.6°C, and annual
Several studies have examined the physical suitability rainfall varies between 470 and 1828.7 mm. The Gelana
of land for Arabica coffee production in Lembah District consists of midlands (30%) and lowlands (70%),
Gumanti, Indonesia, Rwanda, and Kenya. In several with elevations of 1075 – 2511 m. The average annual
19
18
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regions of Ethiopia, land suitability analyses for various temperature ranges from 17°C to 23°C and rainfall from
cereal crops have been conducted 13,20,21 studied land 1396 to 1710 mm.
suitability for Arabica coffee but overlooked factors The Abaya District has a population of 103,348,
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such as climate change, socioeconomic conditions, with 3.42% residing in urban areas. In terms of land
and spatiotemporal differences. In general, previous use, 41% is arable – 28.7% used for annual crops, 35%
research often omitted key factors like microclimate and for pasture, and 15% for woodland. Key crops include
proximity, and the studies varied widely in objectives, haricot beans, maize, and coffee, cultivated on over
study locations, and depth of analysis. 22 5000 ha. Farming depends on livestock for transport
To date, no studies have been conducted in the Abaya and traditional irrigation. 24
and Gelana Districts, specifically using a Geographical The Gelana District has a population of 71,369,
25
information system (GIS) and multi-criteria analysis with a population density of 73.60 people/km² over
techniques to evaluate optimal land suitability for 135,543 km . The farming system combines crops and
2 6
coffee production. Therefore, this study aims to analyze livestock, focusing on cash crops, such as coffee, maize,
optimal land suitability for coffee production in the sorghum, and wheat, and pulses, such as chickpeas,

Volume 22 Issue 4 (2025) 152 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025190143