CHOICE AND INTENSITY OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY ADAPTATION STRATEGIES: EVIDENCE FROM MAIZE FARMERS IN SOUTHERN GHANA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Embedded in a quantitative approach focused on smallholder maize farmers in southern Ghana, this article addresses the dual questions of what climate variability strategies remain adopted? And what is the intensity of adoption as well as the factors that influence the choice and intensity of adaptation strategies? The related literature presents mixed conclusions. Even more compelling is an understanding of how our research questions intersect with socio-demographic factors in mediating and shaping climate variability adaptation strategies. We find drought-resistant varieties, pest and disease control, early/late planting, and the application of indigenous knowledge to be the dominantly adopted climate variability adaptation strategies. The adoption intensity shows three climate adaptation strategies to be the highest (22.34 percent), followed by two (19.29 percent), with the least (0.5 percent) being ten. Farming experience, household size, and farm size positively correlated with the intensity of climate variability adaptation strategies. Temperature perception is inversely correlated with climate variability adaptation intensity. The findings suggest that social capital and other socio-demographic characteristics are relevant for the adoption of climate variability adaptation strategies in southern Ghana.