TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of smallholder maize farmers’ perceptions of climate change on their adaptation strategies
T2 - the case of two agro-ecological zones in Ghana
AU - Aidoo, Danley Colecraft
AU - Boateng, Seth Dankyi
AU - Freeman, Comfort Kudadjie
AU - Anaglo, Jonathan Nicholas
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s)
PY - 2021/11
Y1 - 2021/11
N2 - Maize is one of the most common cereals and a major staple that is cultivated across all agro-ecological zones in Ghana. However, maize productivity is affected by changes in climate, such as increased temperature and variations in rainfall. These changes in climate require farmers to implement practices (adaptation strategies) in order to reduce the magnitude of crop losses. This study examined how the perceptions of maize farmers regarding climate change affect their choice of adaptation strategies. A mixed methods approach was adopted for the study. Data was collected by means of a survey of 386 maize farmers along with focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analysed with descriptive statistics, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and multivariate probit regression, while qualitative responses were used to explain the findings. Results from the data analysis indicated that maize farmers employed 17 adaptation strategies in adapting to climate change. The most common strategies identified were change of planting days, crop diversification, use of resistant varieties, and monitoring weather forecasts on radio. Furthermore, the factors that influenced the choice of adaptation strategies by maize farmers in both zones were experience in farming, household size, and perceptions about the impact and intensity of climate change.
AB - Maize is one of the most common cereals and a major staple that is cultivated across all agro-ecological zones in Ghana. However, maize productivity is affected by changes in climate, such as increased temperature and variations in rainfall. These changes in climate require farmers to implement practices (adaptation strategies) in order to reduce the magnitude of crop losses. This study examined how the perceptions of maize farmers regarding climate change affect their choice of adaptation strategies. A mixed methods approach was adopted for the study. Data was collected by means of a survey of 386 maize farmers along with focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analysed with descriptive statistics, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and multivariate probit regression, while qualitative responses were used to explain the findings. Results from the data analysis indicated that maize farmers employed 17 adaptation strategies in adapting to climate change. The most common strategies identified were change of planting days, crop diversification, use of resistant varieties, and monitoring weather forecasts on radio. Furthermore, the factors that influenced the choice of adaptation strategies by maize farmers in both zones were experience in farming, household size, and perceptions about the impact and intensity of climate change.
KW - Adaptation strategies
KW - Agro-ecological zones
KW - Climate change adaptation
KW - Perceptions
KW - Smallholder farmers
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85118866853&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08307
DO - 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08307
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85118866853
SN - 2405-8440
VL - 7
JO - Heliyon
JF - Heliyon
IS - 11
M1 - e08307
ER -