Abstract
Abstract Ghana faces numerous risks due to severe variability in climate and extremes. This is particularly true for the northern savannah belts of the country, where rain-fed agriculture is the predominant source of livelihood. Using drought risk in Sudan Savannah Zone as a proxy, the study employed geospatial techniques to assess the spatial distribution of climate risks in semi-arid Ghana, highlighting the probable implications for food security and agriculture-related livelihoods. Drought risk was spatially mapped in ArcGIS 10.5, using data on indicators such as precipitation, temperature, vegetation, soil, land use/cover, and proximity to water bodies. The results showed that two-thirds of the study area had either moderate or high probability of experiencing droughts in every farming season. The implication is that smallholder farm-households in these hotspots could expect moderate to high losses and damages in relation to crop loss, increased food insecurity, and a general loss of livelihood. The paper demonstrates that identifying risk level and its distribution could promote a paradigm shift from emergency response to climate risk adaptation. The use of spatial mapping for climate risk assessment at subnational level enhances decision-support systems by facilitating effective planning, implementation and monitoring of adaptation strategies.
Published Version
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