Intra-gendered perceptions and adoption of climate-smart agriculture: Evidence from smallholder farmers in the Upper East Region of Ghana

Abstract

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) remains a key strategy for sustaining agricultural systems and achieving food security and nutrition. Despite this, uncertainty remains on how intra-gendered dynamics influence its adoption in dryland farming systems. This study implements both quantitative and qualitative approaches including household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions to explore how intra-gender dynamics shape the perceptions and adoption of climate-smart agriculture in three selected communities (Katanga, Dakio, and Zonno) in the Bolgatanga East District of the Upper East Region of Ghana. Specifically, the study answers the following research questions: (i) What is the degree of change in rainfall and temperature in the Bolgatanga East District? (ii) How does gender shape the perception of smallholder farmers on climate variability in the study communities? (iii) Which CSA interventions are employed by smallholder farming households in the study communities? (iv) Which socio-demographic factors influence intra-gendered perceptions and adoption of CSA in the study communities? Binary logistic regression was used to identify the factors influencing male and female farmers’ perceptions and adoption of climate-smart agriculture. Rainfall and temperature trends from 2010 to 2020 were analyzed using the Mann-Kendall trend test. We found that over the past ten years, smallholder farmers in the district have seen rising temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns. Less educated female smallholder farmers adopted CSA interventions relative to more educated female farmers. Married male smallholder farmers employed CSA interventions on their farms compared to single and divorced male farmers. The adoption of CSA was higher for female farmers with inherited farmland than for those with rented land. Our results indicate that the source of income and farming experience influence male smallholder farmers’ adoption of crop rotation and their decision to diversify crops on their farms. The farmland tenure system, farming experience, and income source of female farmers influence their choice to change planting dates. The study recommends the integration of intra-gendered dynamics in policy reforms to reduce the vulnerability of smallholder farmers with different socioeconomic characteristics to climate variability in Ghana.