INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AMONG HERDSMEN IN KPONGU COMMUNITY, WA MUNICIPALITY, GHANA

Abstract

Climate change and climate variability have adversely impacted cattle production and the livelihoods of herdsmen. The multiple sources and scales of exposures create a process of vulnerability that constrain adaptive capacity. However, much of the climate change research in Sub-Saharan Africa rarely address how climate change has impacted herder communities and how they are dealing with its effects in tending cattle. Hence, this study explored the role of indigenous knowledge in the adaptation of cattle production to climate change among herdsmen of the Kpongu community in the Wa Municipality, Ghana. A case study research design was adopted and this facilitated an in-depth understanding of how the herder community of Kpongu is affected by climate change and how they are adapting through their indigenous knowledge systems. The primary methods of data collection included key informant interviews, focused group discussions and direct observation. The study revealed that herdsmen describe climate change and climate variability using multiple indicators. These include longer dry seasons and frequent dry spells, shrinking water bodies, formation of iron pans, stunted growth of grasses, smaller stalk sizes and less concentration of grasses. The results further revealed that indigenous adaptation strategies included stress management in herds, mobility of men and herds for feeding and watering, diversification of feed sources and division of labour for meeting differentiated need of cattle. The study also found out that the Municipal Development Planning does not address the climate change adaptation needs of herdsmen and their herds. To enhance adaptive capacity, the study recommends that climate change adaptation needs of herder communities should be institutionalised through Municipal Development Planning and implementation of community based measures such as dredging of water bodies, prevention of bush fires and planting early maturing leguminous crops for shade drying and feeding to the cattle.