Climate change impacts on staple root and tuber crops production: implications for smallholder farmers' livelihoods in rural Ghana

Abstract

This study investigated evidence of climate change impacts on cassava and yam production and its implications on smallholder farmers' livelihood in the Jaman South District of Ghana. Data were collected from 200 smallholder farmers using multi-stage purposive sampling technique. Rainfall and temperature data for the district corroborated the farmers' observation of climate change. In general, crop yield was reported to have decreased over the past two to three decades mainly due to unpredictability in sowing times linked to climate change, which has impacted the farmers livelihood because the crops are important staple food and primary income source. The limited capacity of farmers in adapting to erratic rainfall pattern is a major constraint to adaptation. Findings of the study contribute to a better understanding of autonomous adaptation practices by farmers and highlights a need for prioritising policies and programs for building climate change resilience among smallholder farmers in Ghana.