CLIMATIC SHOCKS: AWARENESS, EVIDENCE AND MITIGATING STRATEGIES AMONG COCOA FARMERS IN GHANA’S WESTERN REGION

Abstract

Cocoa is affected by climatic shocks due to its total reliance on nature thereby lending itself to the inconsistent changes and variations in the weather. The study seeks to investigate climate change and variability awareness, evidence and mitigating strategies cocoa farmers adopt in Ghana’s Western Region. Multistage sampling techniques were used during study. Perception on climate change and variability (objective 1) and adaptation strategies employed (objective 3) were qualitatively analyzed using relative frequency of responses of the farmers. Evidence of climate change and variability (objective 2) was analyzed with a paired t-test using climate data from Ghana Meteorological Agency. The fourth objective which identifies the determinants of choice of an adaptation strategy was achieved using the multinomial logit regression model. Most farmers (77.1%) were aware of climate change and variability. Climate has changed with varying levels of variation. About 50% of the farmers adopted on-farm adaptation strategy while 33% adopted off-farm adaptation strategy. About 17% did not adopt any strategy besides cocoa farming. In all, age, gender, education and membership of FBOs significantly affected choice of adaptation strategies to climate change and variability. Climate has changed in the study area and this has been noticed by the cocoa farmers. On-farm adaptation strategy was the most employed strategy. Age, gender, education and FBO membership were important factors affecting famers’ choice of adaptation strategies to climate change and variability. It is recommended that farmers are trained on the use of appropriate adoption strategies against changing climate.

Keywords

• climate change
• cocoa farmers
• adaptation strategies
• perception
• western region of ghana