Factors Influencing the Adoption of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies by Smallholder Farmers in East Mamprusi District of Northern Region, Ghana

Abstract

This paper looks at the factors that influence adoption of adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in the East Mamprusi District of Northern Ghana. Ghana’s economy is based mainly on rainfed agriculture and the smallholder farmers constitute the majority of the players in the sector. The rainfed nature of agriculture makes the farmers, including those in East Mamprusi District, vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Farmers in the district have adopted climate change adaptation strategies to enable them survive the adverse impacts of climate change. In all, 250 farmers from 25 communities in 5 Area Councils were randomly sampled for the study. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire and analysed using frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations and the probit regression model. The results indicate that planting crops late, use of soil and water conservation practices, mixed farming and mixed cropping are the major adaptation strategies adopted by the farmers in the district. The best predictors of choice of climate change adaptation strategies are formal education, extension contact, support, reduced meals, ease of technology use and food insecurity. Keywords : Climate change, Adaptation strategies, Smallholder farmers, East Mamprusi District.