What are the drivers of cocoa farmers’ choice of climate change adaptation strategies in Ghana?

Abstract

This study analyses cocoa farmers’ perception on climate change and adaptation strategies in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. Better understanding of these perceptions would help identify knowledge gaps of cocoa farmers on climate change, and would help equip them with the requisite knowledge and skills on climate change and improve cocoa yields. The study is based on a cross-sectional survey of 240 cocoa farmers selected from six cocoa growing communities. Logit model is used to estimate factors influencing climate change adaptation strategies among cocoa farmers in the study area. The results of the study reveal that cocoa farmers perceive long-term changes in climatic variables which indicate their awareness of climate change and the impact on cocoa production. The adaptation strategies use by cocoa farmers in the study area includes planting of improved varieties of cocoa, increasing pesticide and fertilizer application, crop diversification, diversification to non-farm activities and planting of trees for shade. Gender, marital status, educational level, household size, engagement in other economic activities, farming experience, access to extension services, access to credit/loan, and cocoa income influence the cocoa farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies. The study suggests that the government of Ghana should develop more effective climate change adaptation strategies as well as improve dissemination of information to farmers through extension agents in order to increase adoption of effective climate change adaptation strategies.