Assessing Maize Farmers’ Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change and Variability in Ghana

Abstract

This study examined the adaptation strategies of maize farmers to climate change and variability in the Eastern Region of Ghana using primary data collected from 150 maize farming households by the administration of structured questionnaires. The results of the multinomial logit regression revealed that rainfall perception, access to credit, and farming experience significantly influenced the adoption of recommended agricultural practices, whereas the adoption of soil-related strategies is influenced by gender and rainfall perception. Farming experience and rainfall perception influenced the adoption of improved varieties strategies. This study highlights the need for the development of water resources for maize production in the context of the changing climate. In this respect, the crucial roles of the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority, the agricultural extension division of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and other international organizations such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the World Bank regarding the development of irrigation facilities and the associated capacity building of the farmers are very important. Finally, the formation of Water User Associations for the smallholder farmers regarding the usage and maintenance of the irrigation facilities would be a step in the right direction.

Exploring the concept of place in the literature on smallholder farmers and climate change adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“…The conceptualization of a globalized world, which is places connected and interdependent, explains how the local place phenomenon has global implications. For instance, place experiences such as harvest failures, low crop yields, poverty, malnutrition, reduced biological productivity, forest loss, continuous land degradation, reduction in livestock, loss of non-timber products, and the loss of arable lands for crop cultivation in rural Ghana are the externalities of global climate Philip Tetteh Quarshie Ph.D. Geography + International Development Studies, Department of Geography Environment and Geomatics, University of Guelph 7 | P a g e Email: pquarshi@uoguelph.ca|Twitter: @PhilipTQuarshi1 change (Asante & Amuakwa-Mensah, 2014;Sadiq et al, 2019). This place experience is considered to undermine global effort in tackling issues such as rural poverty and food insecurities (Dixon & Stringer, 2015;Fraser et al, 2016).…”

“…For instance, in Ghana's semi-arid regions, farmers use the same piece of farmland to practice mixed crop farming, stone bonding, dry season farming using irrigation, and or turn to adopt improved seeds (Ahmed et al, 2016;Ndamani & Watanabe, 2016). Another place-based experience noted by (Antwi-Agyie et al, 2015;Kumasi et al, 2019;Wrigley-Asante et al, 2019;Sadiq et al, 2019) suggested that intensification by some smallholders involves the use of drought resistance variety crop, fertilizer application and efficient use of labour on that same piece of land.…”

“…This farming experience at the new location contributes significantly to environmental preservation through agrochemical and fertilizer reduction on old farm plots. This action promotes better environmental stewardship of old farm places through improved soil and water conservation practices ( Kumasi et al, 2019;Sadiq et al, 2019). Research findings from Agyie (2016) suggest that the choice of a new location for some other smallholders is the river bank.…”

“…As climate vulnerability exacerbates, some farmers migrate to look for work as the only option to deal with climate shocks (Agyei, 2016;Assan et al, 2018;Kumasi et al, 2019). Scholars such as Agyei (2016), Antwi- Agyei et al (2018), andSadiq et al (2019) note that only male farmers predominantly migrate to cities and urban areas to look for a job. In contrast to the assertion that only men migrate to search for job opportunities, Kumasi et al (2019) (Cresswell, 2009).…”

“…Elsewhere in the Nile Basin of Ethiopia, Ayanlade et al (2018) note, years of farming experience, social capital, and agro-ecological settings influence farmers' perception of climate change and choice of adaptation strategies. Other suggestions such as; the degree of soil fertility in a particular place (Tambo, 2016); rainfall patterns (Sadiq et al, 2019); other socioeconomic factors and land tenure system (Fosu-Mensah et al, 2012;Acquah et al, 2017) are what some farmers perceive and carry within them as place-based challenges that influence their ability to adapt to local climate perturbations. Elsewhere, physical characteristics and component place such markets, roads (Antwi- Agyei et al, 2012), farm equipment, soil texture (Acquah et al, 2017), waterbody and trees (Apuri et al, 2018), as well as the experiences and activities that surround them influences adaptation strategies through smallholders' sense of place.…”