Evolving farm-level adaptation to climate variability and change risks in the forest-savanna transitional zone of Ghana

Abstract

The study explores evolving farm-level adaptations of smallholder farmers to climate variability and change (CVC), their determinants and barriers in the forest-savanna transitional zone of Ghana. Using a mixed-method approach, the study obtained primary data from 300 sampled farm household heads, and other selected lead farmers across six rural communities in the Offinso Municipality of Ghana. The survey results show that smallholder rural farmers have observed climate variability and change including reductions in frequency and intensity of rainfall and floods, increased temperatures and intensified drought events in their local environment. While rising temperatures corroborated the available scientific evidence, farmers’ perceptions of rainfall slightly varied from the meteorological data. Also, respondents reported livelihood disruptions, food insecurity risks and reduction in incomes as impacts they are facing in their farming activities. From the focus group discussions, farmers' adaptation strategies are evolving through an integration of modern and local knowledge systems and technologies to facilitate, for example, irrigation, agro-chemical application and drought resistant varieties. Estimated results from the multinomial logit regression support established hypotheses that socioeconomic factors such as gender, age, education, household size, frequency of income and marital status influence farmers’ choices of adaptation at the farm level. Findings highlight high-cost of agricultural inputs, lack of adequate climate information and communication, lack of access to water and absence of alternative livelihood support as key inhibiting factors of farmers’ adaptation strategies. The study emphasises that a blended knowledge system is indispensable in policy formulation and implementation for effective adaptation and food security.