SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF CLIMATE ADAPTATION AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to determine the socioeconomic effects of smallholder farmers' adaptation to climate change in Ghana's Northern region. In this study, a quantitative research approach was used to systematically measure and analyse the variables related to climate adaptation and resilience among smallholder farmers. The research was conducted in the Northern region of Ghana, focusing on smallholder farmers involved in different agricultural activities. This approach focuses on gathering numerical data to explore relationships and quantify the impact of socio-economic factors on climate adaptation using 532 smallholder farmers. The data was collected using a semi-structure questionnaire through face-to-face questionnaires administration. The study was analysis using frequency, percentage and Kendal coefficient of concordance analysis. The study reveals that smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana employ diverse adaptation strategies to address climate change. The study revealed that crop rotation is adopted by 79% of farmers, crucial for soil fertility. Also, the study revealed that adoption of planting early maturing crops is influenced by various economic factors. The sex of the farmer has a positive and statistically significant impact (β = 0.345, p = 0.004), indicating that male farmers are more likely to adopt this strategy. The top-ranked barrier is limited access to credit and financing, with a mean rank of 1.35. This finding underscores how crucial financial resources are for adaptation efforts. The study further revealed that intercropping, where farmers grow multiple crops together in the same field, is practiced by an overwhelming 97.7% of farmers. This high adoption rate underscores the importance of maximizing land use efficiency and reducing the risk of total crop failure. The study further shows that economic factors significantly influence the adoption of early maturing crops. This study concluded that smallholder farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana predominantly adopt various improved traditional farming practices to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. Also, the study recommends that, to support and enhance traditional farming practices in the Northern Region of Ghana, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and the government should implement a comprehensive support program focused on the provision of resources and training.