Perceptions of Climate Variability and Soil Fertility Management Choices Among Smallholder Farmers in Northern Ghana

Abstract

Climate variability and shocks threaten current systems of agricultural production and food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), leading to the promotion of soil, and water conservation measures to enhance the resilience of farming systems. This paper analyzes the factors influencing the probability and intensity of adoption of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) practices in Ghana, and identify the possible combinations of ISFM practices used by farmers based on their perceptions of climate variability and shocks. The empirical results revealed that demographic, farm-related variables, land quality, institutional factors, relative isolation, and recent experience of climate variability and shocks influence the probability and intensity of ISFM adoption. Perceptions of climate variability and shocks have a heterogeneous effect on the adoption of multiple ISFM practices. Farmers exposed to precipitation shocks are more likely to complement mulch with residue as an adaptive response to evapotranspiration while substitute mulch with mineral fertilizer. The results highlight the risk-averse decisions and mitigation strategies employed by farmers. Providing adequate and timely climate information to farmers will mitigate the biases related to the perception of climate variability and subsequently improve soil fertility choice. Strengthening the farmer-research-extension linkages coupled with communication of “better fit” ISFM practices will increase adoption.