Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Variability and Existing Opportunities for Adaptation in Wenchi Area of Ghana

Building on indigenous knowledge to strengthen the capacity of smallholder farming communities to adapt to climate change and variability in southern Africa

“…The reported changes in these rainfall regimes signified a change in seasonality, and exerting new pressures on farmers' decision-making about key farming activities. These observations are consistent with meteorological measurements in parts of Africa that suggest increasing rainfall variability, notably a reduction of rainy days, prolonged dry spells and intense storms (Adjei-Nsiah et al, 2010;Rurinda et al, 2013). Jennings and Mgrath (2009) also reported on farmers in South Asia, East and Southern Africa and Latin America worrying about changes in timing of rainy seasons and patterns of rainfall within 4 P. Mapfumo et al…”

Climate change, food security, and livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa

“…In some regions, such as Wenchi, Ghana, changes in soil fertility and the length of the growing season have lead to people adapting by switching from cash crops (such as cocoa) to short-season and drought-tolerant crops such as maize, yam, and cowpea, which generate less income (Adjei-Nsiah et al 2010).…”

“…The goal is to understand the adaptation process: how people have adapted to past changes, and what changes or conditions are relevant and can provide insight into how they will adapt in the future. Adjei-Nsiah et al (2010) show that in Wenchi, Ghana, farmers consider poor rainfall distribution and frequent droughts as the most important climate-related changes. They are adapting to these changes by planting early-maturing and/or drought-resistant crops, planting early, and using agrochemicals.…”

“…With more than two-thirds of Africans dependent on rain-fed agriculture (World Bank 2009), communities are vulnerable to changes in water regimes, which are likely to be a major stressor on livelihoods. In many regions, erratic, unpredictable rainfall is an existing major stressor that is expected to worsen under climate change (Adjei-Nsiah et al 2010;Codjoe and Owusu 2011;Tambo and Abdoulaye 2013). Farmers are already noticing changes in rainfall and in seasonality (Casale et al 2010;Laube et al 2012;Tambo and Abdoulaye 2013).…”

An Assessment of the Adaptability to Climate Change of Commercially Available Maize Varieties in Zimbabwe

“…A number of studies have attempted to shed light on understanding the drivers and impacts of climate change (IPCC, 2007;Smit & Wandel, 2006;Smit & Skinner, 2002;Swart et al, 2002) as well as adaptation strategies. Of interest to this paper are studies that seem to suggest that local communities are aware of the phenomenon of climate change and are devising strategies to address the problem as reported in Ghana (Adjei-Nsiah et al, 2010) and Tanzania (Mary & Majule, 2009). Dixon et al (2003), however seem less convinced that such a capacity exists because of underdeveloped human and institutional capacity as well as absence of adequate infrastructure.…”