Farmers’ perception on drought constraints and mitigation strategies in cassava cultivation in northern Ghana: Implications for cassava breeding

Abstract

Cassava farmers from three production districts in Northern and Savannah Regions were sampled for their perceptions on drought, production constraints and preferences for new cassava varieties. The levels of agreement of farmers’ responses were tested using Kendall's Coefficient of Concordance (KOC). The results indicated lack of credit as the major constraint followed by drought, lack of improved varieties, diseases and pests’ infestation. Drought was identified as a major challenge with increasing intensity. Most farmers adopt early planting and early maturing varieties as strategies against terminal drought. Plant breeders should develop new high yielding early maturing varieties to mitigate drought.

Keywords

• Cassava
• Drought
• Production constraints
• Early planting
• Early maturing varieties