Farmers’ perception and adaptation to climate change: a case study of Sekyedumase district in Ghana

Fosu-Mensah, Benedicta Y.; Vlek, Paul L. G.; MacCarthy, Dilys S.

doi:10.1007/s10668-012-9339-7

Cited by 371 publications

(260 citation statements)

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“…Therefore, knowledge of local communities on recent climate variability (\20 years) and adaptation measures is very valuable, particularly in the absence of reliable local observations and projections. Several studies such as (West et al 2008;Mertz et al 2009;Kemausuor et al 2011;Fosu-Mensah et al 2012;Tambo and Abdoulaye 2012) have already displayed high consistencies between local perceptions and observations. The IPCC Summary for Policymakers (2014) also showcased that ''adaptation planning and implementation at all levels of governance are contingent on societal values, objectives and risk perceptions.''…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Hydro-climatic changes in the Niger basin and consistency of local perceptions

et al. 2014

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Since the 1970s, the Niger basin has been characterized by hydro-climatic changes which have significant impacts on local populations. These changes are not well documented as a result of a decreasing observation network for hydro-climatic data. Indigenous peoples' knowledge has increasingly been considered an important component in addressing these data gaps. We evaluated the consistency of indigenous perceptions and adaptive responses with rainfall and river discharge observations in the Niger basin. Socioeconomic data were collected from 239 households in 30 communities across two settlements in the Niger basin. Data on historical rainfall and river discharge from 1950 to 2010 were analyzed and the consistency with local perceptions was assessed. Generally, there was a high agreement between observations and perceptions, but impacts of climate change in the communities were dependent on social and environmental factors that can introduce differences in perception despite identical observations. Indigenous perceptions gave good indication of the most vulnerable sectors as well as communities who also displayed the greatest willingness to combat climate change. These results suggest that integration of indigenous perceptions into climate change science, especially in data scarce regions, is highly valuable.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Hydro-climatic changes in the Niger basin and consistency of local perceptions

et al. 2014

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“…The potential impacts of unpredictable rainfall, increasing temperatures, and longer dry periods caused by global climate change add to the vulnerability of Ghanaian agricultural production systems (Jalloh et al, 2013). The agricultural sector in northern Ghana in particular is challenged by various factors, of which climate-related dry spells and floods are the major ones (Fosu-Mensah, Vlek, & McCarthy, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This paper, therefore, provides a comparison of meteorological data with farmers' observation but also reflects on the limitations of this methodological approach. Most of the farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are well aware of the local manifestations of climate change, especially changes in temperature and precipitation (Acquah-de Graft & Onumah, 2011;Deressa, Hassan, Ringler, Alemu, & Yesuf, 2008;Fosu-Mensah et al, 2012;Mandleni & Anim, 2011), though they often do not link them to climate change as such. This is because climate change is not a local concept and has therefore no local term in many African languages Bello, Salau, Galadima, & Ali, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Variability Since 1970 and Farmers’ Observations in Northern Ghana

Nyadzi¹

2016

SAR

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The study examines how farmers' observations of climate variability and change correspond with 42 years meteorological data of temperature and rainfall. It shows how farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana adjust to the changing climate and explore the various obstacles that hinder the implementation of their adaptation strategies. With the help of an extension officer, 200 farmers from 20 communities were randomly selected based on their farming records. Temperatures over the last four decades ) increased at a rate of 0.04 (± 0.41) ˚C and 0.3(± 0.13)˚C from 2010-2011 which is consistent to the farmers (82.5%) observations. Rainfall within the districts are characterised by inter-annual and monthly variability. It experienced an increased rate of 0.66 (± 8.30) mm from 1970-2009, which was inconsistent with the farmers (81.5%) observation. It however decreased from 2010-2011 at a huge rate of -22.49 (±15.90) mm which probably was the reason majority of the respondents claim rainfall was decreasing. Only 64.5% of the respondents had adjusted their farming activities because of climate variability and change. They apply fertilizers and pesticides, practice soil and water conservation, and irrigation for communities close to dams. Respondents desire to continue their current adaptation methods but may in the future consider changing crop variety, water-harvesting techniques, change crop production to livestock keeping, and possibly migrate to urban centers. Lack of climate change education, low access to credit and agricultural inputs are some militating factors crippling the farmers' effort to adapt to climate change.

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“…The actions of adjusting practices or adaptation strategies to extreme climate events can largely dominate the agricultural production (Smit and Skinner, 2002;Rosenzweig and Tubiello, 2007;Fosu-Mensah et al, 2012). Generally, local managers and farmers will design adaptation measures according to the crop exposure to adverse climatic hazards and past risk management experience.…”

Section: Effects and Improvement Potential Of The Adaptation In Northmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying the impact of multi-hazards on crop yield—A case for heat stress and dry stress on winter wheat yield in northern China

Chen

Zhang

Wang

et al. 2016

European Journal of Agronomy

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a b s t r a c tWinter wheat production in northern China severely suffered from high temperatures and low relative humidity. However, the spatio-temporal pattern of heat stress and dry stress and the impacts of these multi-hazards on winter wheat yield have rarely been investigated. Using historical climate data, phenology data and yield records from 1980 to 2008, an analysis was performed to characterize the spatio-temporal variability of heat stress and dry stress in the post-heading stages of wheat growth in northern China. Additionally, these stresses' impacts on winter wheat yield fluctuations were evaluated. Spatially, the central and northern parts of northern China have seen more serious heat stress, while greater dry stress has been observed in the northwest and north of the research area. Temporally, the heat stress has increased in the western part but decreased in the central and eastern parts of research area. Dry stress has aggravated in the entire northern China during the past decades, indicating the complexity of the exposure to adverse climate conditions. These two hazards (heat stress and dry stress) have contributed significant yield loss (up to 1.28% yield yr −1 ) in most parts of the research region. The yield in the west was more sensitive to heat stress, and dry stress was the main hazard in the south. Additionally, the opposite spatial pattern between the sensitivity and exposure revealed that the climate is not the only factor controlling the yield fluctuation, the local adaptation measures used to mitigate negative influences of extreme events should not be ignored. In general, this study highlighted a focus on the impacts of multi-hazards on agricultural production, and an equal importance of considering local adaptation ability during the evaluation of agricultural risk in the future. Additionally, paying more attention to higher sensitive areas and to more reasonable and practical adaptive strategies is critical and significant for food supply security.

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Farmers’ perception and adaptation to climate change: a case study of Sekyedumase district in Ghana

Cited by 371 publications

References 16 publications

Hydro-climatic changes in the Niger basin and consistency of local perceptions

Hydro-climatic changes in the Niger basin and consistency of local perceptions

Climate Variability Since 1970 and Farmers’ Observations in Northern Ghana

Identifying the impact of multi-hazards on crop yield—A case for heat stress and dry stress on winter wheat yield in northern China

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