Impact of climate variability on pineapple production in Ghana

Abstract

Background: Climate variations have a considerable impact on crop production. For pineapple, variable temperatures and rainfall patterns are implicated, yet there is limited knowledge of the conditions and consequences of such variations. Pineapple production plays a major role in Ghana, primarily via socioeconomic impacts and the export economy. The aims of this study were to assess the impact of current climatic trends and variations in four pineapple growing districts in Ghana to provide stakeholders, particularly farmers, with improved knowledge for guidance in adapting to changing climate.Results: Trend analysis, standardized anomaly, correlation analysis as well as focus group discussions were employed to describe climate and yields as well as assess the relationship between climate and pineapple production from 1995 to 2014. The results revealed that, relative to Ga district, temperature (minimum and maximum) in the study areas was increasing over this period at a rate of up to 0.05 °C. Rainfall trends increased in all but Nsawam Adoagyiri district. Rainfall and temperature had different impacts on production, and pineapple was particularly sensitive to minimum temperature as accounting for up to 82% of yield variability. Despite consistent report of rainfall impact on growth stages later affecting quantity and quality of fruits, minimal statistical significance was found between rainfall and yield. Conclusions:With continuously increasing stresses imposed by a changing climate, the sustainability of pineapple production in Ghana is challenged. This subsequently has detrimental impacts on national employment and exports capacity resulting in increased poverty. Further research to explore short-and long-term adaption options in response to challenging conditions in the pineapple industry in Ghana is suggested.

Smallholder farmers experiences of climate variability and change on pineapple production in Ghana: Examining adaptation strategies for improved production

“…A very recent study by Williams et al (2017) confirms that, climate variability impacts on pineapple production in Ghana and has consequences for both fruit quality and quantity produced. Adapting to climate projections therefore will require a new paradigm, as the adaptation actions taken so far by farmers are likely not to sustain and improve the pineapple production industry in Ghana.…”

“…Although there exist few literature specific on pineapple production and climate in Africa and Ghana (Williams et al, 2017;Iwuchukwu and Udoye 2014;Mugambwa, 2014), its adaptation strategies are generally inferred from other crop production adaptation measures which is not a standard way of providing adaptation measures specifically for pineapple production. Understanding adaptation measures by smallholder pineapple farmers will provide source of knowledge on adaptation practices to a changing climate regarding cultivation.…”

“…Projections of the nature and magnitude of these impacts on agriculture require knowledge of possible adaptation techniques (Moore and Lobell, 2014). Pineapple is more sensitive to variations as impacts from excessive heat and irregular rain results in low productivity (Iwuchukwu and Udoye, 2014;Williams et al, 2017). Though pineapple crop can withstand longer periods of drought when subjected to prolonged water stress, plants cannot obtain the desired sizes needed for flower induction and growth (TachieMenson et al, 2014).…”

Welfare effects of weather variability: Multi-country evidence from Africa south of the Sahara

“…Temperature variability in Ghana has previously been found to have a stronger effect on crop yields than rainfall variability. [51] As shown in Fig 1, Ghana has not only the warmest planting and growing season among the three countries, but has also experienced a consistent warming trend during the study period. The positive association between heat wave and expenditure could be due to confounding factors.…”

Use of 2,4-D in Mixture with Ethephon and Calcium Carbide in Pineapple Crop

“…Higher contents of N, P and K increases the average weight of the pineapple fruit (Guarçoni and Ventura, 2011). In addition, depending on the stage of crop development, variations in temperature and precipitation may also influence the growth of the pineapple fruit (Azevedo et al, 2007;Williams et al, 2017).…”