Impacts of changing climate on maize production in the transitional zone of Ghana. A case study of Nkoranza south municipality

Abstract

This study sought to assess the challenges and opportunities that come with climate change and variability impacts on maize farming in the Nkoranza South Municipality in the Transitional Zone of Ghana. The mixed method approach was used in collecting the data. The results of the study showed that farmers had observed changes in climate in the form of decreasing rainfall, rising air temperatures and seasonal changes in rainfall pattern which were affecting their maize farming operations. The major setbacks within the area were deficit in rainy days and intermittent erratic rainfall affecting maize production. The reduction in rainfall was corroborated by data obtained from Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) which indicated that the dry cell between the major and minor rainy seasons was getting wetter and the two seasons were gradually merging whereas the first and last quarters of the year were getting drier for a couple of decades. The situation over the last five years had worsened as the amount of total rainfall had reduced by 22% compared to the 30year period between 1960 and 1982. The major opportunity available to farmers in the face of changing climate in this agroecological zone was cashew production. About 76.8% of the respondents had diversified into cashew farming.