Maize and Cashew Farming in the Face of Climate Change Variability in the Transitional Zone of Ghana: A Case Study of Nkoranza South Municipality

Victor Adjei,Louis Kwantwi Boafo

doi:10.3844/ajessp.2019.82.89

Victor Adjei, Louis Kwantwi Boafo

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3844/ajessp.2019.82.89

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Abstract

The main aim of the study was to find out reasons behind the widespread conversion of maize farmlands to the production of cashew by most of the farmers in the transition zone of Ghana. The nature of the study necessitated the use of both primary and secondary data to achieve the objectives. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were used for the study. Twelve key informants were interviewed. Three hundred and twenty questionnaires were administered. Meteorological (rainfall and temperature) data were critically analysed. Most of the farmers had the intention to shift their resources (farmlands) to cultivate cashew as according to them, the trees were resistant to irregular rainfall unlike maize. The major threat pushing maize farmers from business was the changing climate, a situation worsened by the interaction of ‘multiple stressors’, occurring at various stages and low adaptive capacity.

Highlights

There is enough evidence that the earth’s climate has warmed since the pre-industrial era and most of the warming over the last 50 years is most likely to have been as a result of a rise in Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2007]
Three major physical impacts of the changing climate according to IPCC (AR4) in Ghana are: rising of temperature, changing rainfall trend towards a long dry season and disappearing wet season
Owusu et al (2008) highlight a change of rainfall regime over the entire country resulting in a longer dry season and vanishing of dry spell between the major and minor farming seasons (Major season starts from April to July and Minor from September to November)

Summary

Introduction

There is enough evidence that the earth’s climate has warmed since the pre-industrial era and most of the warming over the last 50 years is most likely to have been as a result of a rise in Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2007]. This has come about as a result of combustion of fossil fuel, agriculture and land-use change (IPCC, 2007). Three major physical impacts of the changing climate according to IPCC (AR4) in Ghana are: rising of temperature, changing rainfall trend towards a long dry season and disappearing wet season. The Ghanaian agricultural-dependent economy has been assessed to suffer severe economic consequences (Kyekyeku Nti, 2008)

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