Abstract
ABSTRACT Farming in Ghana’s Volta delta is increasingly affected by variability in rainfall conditions and changes in land-use patterns. Under such socio-ecological conditions, little is known about farmers’ decision-making in response to uncertainties in uncertain rainfall conditions. To fill this gap and add to the literature on adaptive decision-making, we addressed the central question: what are the existing patterns of farming decision-making under uncertain rainfall conditions, and which decision-making strategies are adaptive? We developed an adaptive decision-making framework to investigate the behavior of farmers under variable rainfall conditions in Ghana’s Volta delta in the Ada East District. We conducted 5 interviews with agricultural extension agents, 44 in-depth interviews and 4 focus group discussion with farmers. Subsequently, we interviewed a sub-selection of 32 farmers. Findings of the study shows that farmers carry out different decision-making patterns in response to the variable rainfall conditions. We distinguished six strategies: three based on flexibility and three based on robustness. Flexible adaptive decision-making strategies are switching dates for sowing seeds through wait-and-see or delay strategy, muddling through the farming season with the application of various options and alternative irrigation strategies. Robust adaptive decision-making strategies are portfolio strategy of transplanting seedlings in batches, selection of robust (hardy) crops, and intercropping or diversification. Based on how farmers select strategies in response to uncertainty in rainfall conditions, we argue that some decision-making strategies are more adaptive than others. Findings of this study are relevant for the design and implementation of climate related agricultural projects.
Highlights
Deltas are dynamic regions which play relevant roles towards sustainable livelihoods and development
The main question is: What are the existing patterns of farming decision-making under variable rainfall conditions and how adaptive are the decision-making strategies? To enable us answer the question, we developed a conceptual framework for adaptive decision-making by building on the existing literature on decision-making and we empirically studied farming in the Volta delta, in the Ada East District, Ghana
We start the section with findings on farming decision-making patterns for the year 2017 for each farming season
Summary
Deltas are dynamic regions which play relevant roles towards sustainable livelihoods and development. Most delta regions in Asia and Africa host growing populations as they are the interface between the land and the sea (Woodroffe et al 2006). Several livelihoods including, fishing, salt production, tourism, trade, farming and other economic R. Despite the socio-ecological and economic benefits derived from deltas, they are gradually vulnerable to several environmental stressors such as coastal erosion, sediment deposition, seawater intrusion and changing climatic conditions (Addo 2015). These phenomena threatens food security, increases poverty and the sustainability of livelihoods such as farming
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