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Adaptation strategies of Ghanaian cocoa farmers under a changing climate

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  • Afriyie-Kraft, Lydia
  • Zabel, Astrid
  • Damnyag, Lawrence

Abstract

Much literature has been devoted to understanding farmers' adaptation decisions in annual cropping systems, but comparatively little is known on adaptation in perennial systems. This paper presents empirical findings on Ghanaian cocoa farmers' experiences of climate change, the coping strategies they have used and the factors that influenced their adaptation decisions. Primary data were collected through a structured survey of 313 households in 20 communities in Dormaa West and Bia East districts of Ghana. The econometric analysis of the data shows that more than 90% of cocoa farmers have been exposed to negative impacts of climate change. This resulted in severe and very severe effects on their cocoa production and livelihood. Yet a fourth of the respondents have not implemented any adaptation strategy. We argue that this is due to the economic superiority of cocoa as a perennial crop vis-à-vis other agricultural (annual) crops. We conclude that there is need for the development of adaptation technologies for current cocoa farmers but also need for more transformational adaptation policies that generate jobs and income generating activities outside cocoa cultivation.

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  • Afriyie-Kraft, Lydia & Zabel, Astrid & Damnyag, Lawrence, 2020. "Adaptation strategies of Ghanaian cocoa farmers under a changing climate," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:forpol:v:113:y:2020:i:c:s1389934118304015
    DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2020.102115
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    Cited by:

    1. Afriyie-Kraft, Lydia & Zabel, Astrid & Damnyag, Lawrence, 2020. "Index-based weather insurance for perennial crops: A case study on insurance supply and demand for cocoa farmers in Ghana," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).
    2. Florian Klopfer & René Westerholt & Dietwald Gruehn, 2021. "Conceptual Frameworks for Assessing Climate Change Effects on Urban Areas: A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Richard Kwasi Bannor & Helena Oppong-Kyeremeh & Bismark Amfo & Lesley Hope & Samuel Kwabena Chaa Kyire, 2022. "The Nexus Between Cocoa Farmers’ Business Schools Participation and Impact to Support Livelihood Improvement Strategies in Ghana," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, June.
    4. Amfo, Bismark & Ali, Ernest Baba, 2020. "Climate change coping and adaptation strategies: How do cocoa farmers in Ghana diversify farm income?," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    5. Chris Bryant & Matthew I. Mitchell, 2021. "The political ecology of cocoa in Ghana: Past, present and future challenges," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 45(4), pages 350-365, November.
    6. Melese Mulu Baylie & Csaba Fogarassy, 2021. "Examining the Economic Impacts of Climate Change on Net Crop Income in the Ethiopian Nile Basin: A Ricardian Fixed Effect Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-16, June.
    7. Amfo, Bismark & Ali, Ernest Baba & Atinga, David, 2021. "Climate change, soil water conservation, and productivity: Evidence from cocoa farmers in Ghana," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).

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