Socioecological Factors and Practical Challenges to the Adoption of Circular Agriculture and Agroecological Techniques By Climate-Vulnerable Farmers

Circular agriculture and agroecological practices have the potential to offset the negative impacts of climate change but their adoption by farmers remain constrained. This study explores the practices and challenges associated with a range of agroecological and circular agriculture techniques adopted by farmers in climate-vulnerable regions of Ghana. Using an explanatory sequential mixed method approach, data were collected from 154 randomly selected farmers and a focus group of 7 farmers each in 5 communities within the savanna ecological zone of Ghana. The findings show at least 50% of the farmers are engaged in agroecological practices that involve a reduction in external input use and natural processes for soil fertility and soil health improvement. Between 46.1% to 57.8% of the farmers also engage in circular agriculture practices. At a 5% level of significance, socioecological (ecological identity, access to scientific information, and traditional knowledge) and demographic factors (gender, landowner, and education) were found to have effects on the adoption of agroecological practices and circular agriculture. Challenges to agroecological and circular agricultural practices include perceived ineffectiveness, lower productivity, lack of technical knowledge, resource capacity, capital, and infrastructure limitation. Technical capacity development and promotion of the “good farmer” concept of ecological identity through extension service is needed to enhance circular agriculture and agroecological practices adoption among farmers.