Cocoa Farmers and their Perceptions of Climate Change: A Case Study of the Central and Western Regions of Ghana

2018

English

Adaptation to climate change requires that farmers first notice that the climate has changed, identify useful adaptations and implement them. One factor that has been most often left out is the issue of perception. How can one adapt to climate change in an adequate way if one does not perceive current and future climate change as a reality? It is arguable that the first step towards adaptation is the perception of the problem. A systematic and integrated methodology was used to collect data for analysis. A field survey in some cocoa growing communities in the Central and Western regions of Ghana was conducted between July 2013 and February, 2014. Rainfall was the most significant climatic parameter. Long dry periods, unpredictable rainfall patterns and high sunshine/temperatures were among the noticeable changes in climate. Gender, education, farming experience, and exposure to the mass media among other factors had a positive and significant relationship with farmer perceptions of climate change. Farmers who perceive a change in climate are more likely to adapt to reduce the impact on their production. In designing adaptation strategies and communicating them to farmers, the perceptions of farmers and the factors affecting them cannot be ignored.

Buxton, D. N.; Lamptey, B. L.; Nyarko, B. K.