Constraints on farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate variability and change

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the constraints on the adaptive capacity of crop farmers in two districts in different agroecological zones – Atwima Mponua (Semi-Deciduous Forest Zone) and Ejura-Sekyeredumase (Transition Zone) of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. A comparative-case mixed-methods research design was adopted using household survey questionnaires, focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews with key informants. The study involved 150 farming households from each district. The study found that farmers’ adaptive capacity to either plan or implement adaptive strategies has not always been successful due to lack of resources among other things. Constraints mentioned by farmers include lack of infrastructure, and secured land rights while the local institutions mentioned inadequate financial resources and poor technological capacity. Robust policy formulation and implementation aimed at equipping farmers with resources and strengthening institutional capacities is necessary to enhance the adaptive capacity of crop farmers to climate variability and change impacts.

KEYWORDS:

• Climate variability and change
• adaptation
• adaptive capacity
• institutional support
• constraints

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

B. E. Ofori-Kyereh

B. E. Ofori-Kyereh is a freelance researcher. She has worked with other giant Agricultural and Environmental Research institutions in sub-Saharan Africa to champion wide-scale research projects and programmes to promote sustainable research activities that aim at improving the livelihoods of rural farmers including opportunities for adaptation to climate-related risks impacts.

J. F. Morton

J. F. Morton is a Professor of Development Anthropology at the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Greenwich. He has worked extensively across sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions on topics including the impacts of climate change on the rural poor and their opportunities for adaptation.

T. C. B. Chancellor

T. C. B. Chancellor is a Visiting Fellow at the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Greenwich. He has worked on integrated pest and disease management of various crops in several countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. His research focus is on sustainable agricultural systems and organizational and institutional capacity development.