GENDER DIMENSIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON CROP PRODUCTION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES IN THE NADOWLI-KALEO DISTRICT, GHANA

Abstract

Climate change has become a well-known global issue which has the greatest impact on agriculture which is the mainstay of the people in Nadowli-Kaleo District. Although climate change affects everyone but its impacts are differently distributed among males and females. This study analyzed the gender differentiated impacts of climate change on agricultural production and the adaptation strategies by the farmers in the Nadowli-Kaleo District. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative research approach. A total of 120 crop farmers were purposively selected based on their experience in farming. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaire. The study found out that 90.5% female and 94.9% male respondents perceived an increased in (temperature, other climatic events), a decreased and an increased in rainfall amount and rainfall unpredictability pattern respectively. The chi-square test revealed that there was no significant gender difference in the perception of the change in the local climate. The findings did not show any significant gender differential impact of temperature on crop production, however, there was a significant gender differential impact of changes in rainfall on crop production in the study area. There was a significant difference in the adaptation strategies employed by both male and female farmers in coping with changes in temperature and rainfall. The coping challenges include, financial constraints/ lack of access to credit, lack/limited dams for irrigation, limited education from the extension officers, lack of information on weather, high cost of farm inputs. It is recommended that government should subsidize farm inputs such as fertilizers and irrigational machines for farmers and also ensure that there are flexibilities in the terms and conditions such as low interest rate to make credit facilities more accessible to farmers. It was also recommended that government and development partners should main streamed gender dimension into all climate change related policies, projects and programs to get a holistic approach in addressing the menace.