FACTORS INFLUENCING SMALLHOLDER FARMING HOUSEHOLDS' ADAPTIVE CAPACITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY IN THE SAVELUGU/NANTON MUNICIPALITY OF GHANA

Abstract

Agriculture in northern Ghana is largely rain-fed dependent within current climate variability, Generally, adaptive capacities of smallholder farming households to climate change are low, This study investigated factors influencing the adaptive capacity of smallholder farming households to climate change and climate variability in the Savelugu/Nanton Municipality in the Northern Region of Ghana. The adaptive capacity index for farming households were computed and a Tobit regression model was employed to determine the factors influencing the adaptive capacity of farming households to climate change. Empirical results reveal that male headed households, membership of a farmer-based organisation, households' participation in adaptation programs, off-farm activities, educational level of household heads, land ownership, number of extension contacts and access to credit significantly influence the adaptive capacity of smallholder farming households in adapting to climate change positively; while age of household head negatively influence the adaptive capacity of smallholder farming households. Smallholder farming households should therefore form associations for experience sharing; and extension aqents should intensify contacts with farmers to enhance new technology adoption, Farmers should further be guided to adopt climate smart intervention technologies from their participation in adaption programs to enhance resilience to climate change