Gender-based variations in the perception of climate change impact, vulnerability and adaptation strategies in the Pra River Basin of Ghana

Enoch Bessah,Emmanuel Donkor,Olalekan John Taiwo,Sampson Kwaku Agodzo,Olusola Oluwayemisi Ololade,Abdulganiy Olayinka Raji,Alexandre Strapasson

doi:10.1108/ijccsm-02-2020-0018

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to assess gender-based differences on farmers’ perception of impacts and vulnerability to climate change and the implementation of adaptation strategies in the Pra River Basin of Ghana, while also providing lessons for other Sub-Saharan nations and regions with similar conditions. Design/methodology/approach The study used semi-structured interviews and questionnaires to collect data from 344 farmers, 64 participants in focus group discussions and 6 agriculture extension officers (key informants) from 10 districts in the Pra River Basin of Ghana. Findings Results showed several differences in how climate change is perceived and tackled by male and female genders. In the perception of male farmers, for example, they were found to be more vulnerable to increased temperature, and changes in rainfall and growing season, whereas female farmers on average were considered to be less resilient to floods and droughts for different reasons. Moreover, floods posed higher risks to farming than other climate change impacts. Gender roles had a significant correlation with the type of adaptation strategies practised. Men adopted agrochemicals more often than women, as an adaptation strategy. Research limitations/implications Gender-differentiated interventions should be incorporated in the national climate change action plan for sustainable development in a rain-fed agricultural economy such as Ghana. The study recommends several actions to promote gender equity in the assessed region. Originality/value This research assessed the gender differentials in climate trends, impact, vulnerability and adaptation based on primary data collected between April and May 2019 and compared the results with climate data in the basin for the period 1991–2014. It is an empirical study focused on primary data analysis obtained in loco by authors, involving approximately 400 participants.

Highlights

The interplay between climate change, gender equality and agricultural development has received growing attention in the scientific community, governments and non-governmental agencies
This study demonstrated that gender plays a significant role in the perception of climate change impact, vulnerability and adaptation and that they are influenced by different responsibilities, traditions and cultural norms
It was observed that women are often restricted from social gatherings which discriminate them in their capacity to be informed and participate in the decision-making process possibly due to the patriarchal culture in the study area

Summary

Introduction

The interplay between climate change, gender equality and agricultural development has received growing attention in the scientific community, governments and non-governmental agencies. This relationship is important for agricultural-based economies in Africa, with limited resources for climate change adaptation. Existing studies show that climate change negatively affects crop production (Xu et al, 2019; Chandio et al, 2020) and household food security, especially in rural communities with limited adaptation capacity (Wossen et al, 2018). Some of the impacts of climate change include increased morbidity and mortality (Gasparrini et al, 2017), decreased labour productivity and supply, decreased economic output (Wossen et al, 2018), mass migration (Hsiang and Sobel, 2016), lower human capital (Garg et al, 2018), reduced working hours (Masuda et al, 2019) and extreme climate events (IPCC, 2014; Traore et al, 2020)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion