SMALLHOLDER RICE FARMERS’ STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE KASENA-NANKANA EAST MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

The study assessed the effectiveness of rice farmer’s strategies in building climate resilience for sustainable adaptation in the Kasena-Nankana East Municipality in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The study adopted the mixed method approach which uses both quantitative and qualitative methods. Both questionnaires and interview guide were used in the collection of primary and secondary data with a sample size of 96 rice farmers and 8 key informants. The study revealed that; rice farmers indicated that the threat of climatic change is more on agricultural production. The results of the study revealed that climate change has an impact on paddy production. Also, variations in climate have caused an increase in incidences of floods during the raining season. The results further showed that shifts in rainfall seasonality have caused crop failures and low yield. Also, rice farmers do not use water-harvesting techniques as a strategy to climatic change. Thus, it is recommended that smallholder rice farmers need to be educated more on the issues of climatic change and its effects on their rice farming. The weather and meteorological service should make it a point to provide timely and accurate information on the rain patterns for the farmers. The government should post more agricultural extension Offices to the district to support in advising and dissemination of appropriate and right information to the farmers