El Niño is warming of the sea surface temperature of the Pacific Ocean. Extreme flooding,
drought, lack of potable water for livestock and domestic use, food insecurity and market
imbalance are associated with El Niño and La Niña in Ethiopia. Drought following El Niño
caused 50 to 90% crop failure, in the eastern parts of Ethiopia. El Niño episodes are detected
using different statistical indices such as Oceanic Nino Index (ONI), Agricultural Stress Index
System (ASIS) and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), with magnitude ranging from weak to
strong. Identifying the El Niño and La Niña seasons it is very important to adopt suitable
adaptation strategies, which can resolve and/or reduce the negative impacts. Early warning and
immediate support to the impacted areas have been carried out to minimize risks from El Niño
animal feed for livestock from other areas has been transported to the vulnerable areas. Planting
early maturing and drought resistant crops, supplementary irrigation, early waning information
on weather and climate have been exercised as climate change adaptation strategies, early
warning mechanisms by the government of Ethiopia. El Niño and La Niña are natural
phenomena; however, it is necessary to study the occurrence and distribution of El Niño and La
Niña episodes to enable early warning and identify suitable adaptation strategies and policy
implications in the country.
