CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND AGRICULTURE: INDIGENOUS FARMIMNG COPING STRATEGIES OF FARMERS IN THE BAWKU WEST DISTRICT, GHANA

Abstract

The people of northern Ghana especially those in the rural areas depend to a great extent on agriculture which is climate dependent. They have been coping with climatic variations to ensure that they avoid complete loss in cropping seasons. However the variations in recent times seem to exceed their capacities. The inevitable changes predicted by the IPCC and scientist demands knowledge of their coping strategies and what changes are being made. Hence the study of rural farmers understanding of climate variability, its effects, and strategies developed to cope with respect to crop cultivation and soil management in the Bawku West District. Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaire and a checklist, and secondary data (Temperature, Rainfall and crop yield) for the District was also collected and analyzed to compare with farmers views. Findings of the study were that farmers have noticed variations in climate in terms of delays in onset of the rains, intermittent droughts and flooding. They have attributed it to Human activities (eg. deforestation) and punishment from God and most respondents aged 61 years and above attributed it to non / improper performance of sacrifices in recent times. These variations coupled with low soil fertility result in low crop yield. They are coping by practicing mixed farming but now with more rearing of goats and poultry than cattle and cultivating new or improved crop varieties introduced into the District. Their ways of coping is good but not sufficient to withstand the changes predicted by the IPCC. It is recommended that farmers be assisted with more reliable information on climatic variations and what to do, logistics such as farm implements, inputs, irrigation facilities, tree seedlings for flood prone areas and credit facilities to help them engage in other income generating activities.