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Livelihood diversification strategies and resilience to climate change in semi-arid northern Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Kamaldeen Mohammed

    (University of Western Ontario)

  • Evans Batung

    (University of Western Ontario)

  • Moses Kansanga

    (George Washington University)

  • Hanson Nyantakyi-Frimpong

    (University of Denver)

  • Isaac Luginaah

    (University of Western Ontario)

Abstract

Climate change threatens the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the Global South. In semi-arid northern Ghana, where over 73% of the population is engaged in smallholder agriculture, climate-induced food insecurity is of major concern. Livelihood diversification is acknowledged to have the potential to improve climate resilience in smallholder farming systems through risk spreading. That notwithstanding, little is known about the links between livelihood diversification strategies and climate resilience in such vulnerable settings. Drawing data from a cross-sectional survey with 1100 smallholder households in semi-arid northern Ghana, this study contributes to the literature by examining the association between livelihood diversification and climate change resilience. Findings from logistic regression analysis revealed that smallholder farming households that practiced only farm diversification (OR = 4.66; p ≤ 0.001) and a combination of both farm and nonfarm diversification (OR = 6.28; p ≤ 0.001) had significantly higher odds of reporting stronger resilience to climate change compared to those who did not employ any diversification strategy. The study further revealed that land preparation techniques, source of climate information, and religion were significantly associated with smallholder farmers’ perceived climate change resilience. These findings point to the need for agricultural policy to promote both farm and nonfarm livelihoods as complementary risk-spreading strategies. Exploring the synergies between farm and nonfarm livelihoods may prove beneficial in semi-arid agrarian contexts. In doing so, critical contextual dynamics such as source of farm power and sources of climate information must not be overlooked.

Suggested Citation

  • Kamaldeen Mohammed & Evans Batung & Moses Kansanga & Hanson Nyantakyi-Frimpong & Isaac Luginaah, 2021. "Livelihood diversification strategies and resilience to climate change in semi-arid northern Ghana," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 164(3), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:164:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1007_s10584-021-03034-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-021-03034-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Mohammed, Kamaldeen & Batung, Evans & Saaka, Sulemana Ansumah & Kansanga, Moses Mosonsieyiri & Luginaah, Isaac, 2023. "Determinants of mechanized technology adoption in smallholder agriculture: Implications for agricultural policy," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    2. Cornelius K. A. Pienaah & Evans Batung & Suleman Ansumah Saaka & Kamaldeen Mohammed & Isaac Luginaah, 2023. "Early Warnings and Perceived Climate Change Preparedness among Smallholder Farmers in the Upper West Region of Ghana," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Daniel Amoak & Isaac Luginaah & Gordon McBean, 2022. "Climate Change, Food Security, and Health: Harnessing Agroecology to Build Climate-Resilient Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Yong Liu & Jorge Ruiz-Menjivar & Junbiao Zhang, 2023. "Do soil nutrient management practices improve climate resilience? Empirical evidence from rice farmers in central China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(9), pages 10029-10054, September.
    5. Duy Linh Nguyen & Trung Thanh Nguyen & Ulrike Grote, 2023. "Shocks, household consumption, and livelihood diversification: a comparative evidence from panel data in rural Thailand and Vietnam," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(5), pages 3223-3255, October.
    6. Peijun Wang & Jing Wang & Chunbo Zhu & Yan Li & Weijun Sun & Jinyi Li, 2023. "Factors Influencing Livelihood Resilience of Households Resettled from Coal Mining Areas and Their Measurement—A Case Study of Huaibei City," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, December.
    7. Danyang Li & Daizo Kojima & Laping Wu & Mitsuyoshi Ando, 2023. "Digital Ability and Livelihood Diversification in Rural China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-14, August.

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