Resource Management and Climate Change Adaptation: Implications for Farmers’ Livelihood in the Transition Agro Ecological Zone of Ghana

This study seeks to examine the imperatives of resource management in enhancing adaptation to climate change in Ghana. It explores the extent to which the effective use of resources impacts on climate change adaptation processes and how that in turn, influences the livelihoods of farmers in the Transition Agro Ecological Zone of Ghana. Adaptation to climate change needs planning and innovativeness. This study provides logical and empirical evidence that demonstrate that the effective use of resources positively influences climate change adaptation and invariably improves livelihoods. Primary and secondary data were used in this study. Primary data was collected from five farm communities purposely selected in the transition agro ecological zone of Ghana. Groups of farmers from three communities in Wenchi, and one community each from Techiman North and Nkoranza South districts were interacted with in a participatory focus group discussion. Data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey 7 (GLSS7) was the source of secondary data used for the study. The study assesses the importance of resources in building the adaptive capacity of farmers against the negative effects of climate change in the transition agro ecological zone of Ghana. Household adaptive capacity is estimated using Vincent (2007) framework, with variables from the GLSS7 data. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and Simultaneous Quantile (SQ) regressions are used to estimate factors that influence the adaptive capacity of farmers. The effect of climate change adaptation on the livelihood of farmers is also estimated using the Simultaneous Quantile and Multinomial Logit regressions. Farmers’ perception on climate change, the causes of climate change, and what can be done to reduce the negative effects of climate change were obtained from the primary data collected. Farmers’ views on what resources and which stakeholders are important for capacity building and adaptation against the negative effects of climate change were also obtained from both primary and GLSS7 data. Results from the OLS and SQ regressions show that, locality, poverty status of the household, education level, size of landholding of household, ownership of bank account and possession of a mobile phone have a positive influence on household adaptive capacity. SQ results on the effects of climate change adaptation on the livelihood of farmers also show that household adaptive capacity, farm size, mixed cropping, farm diversification, livelihood diversification and ownership of farm land, all have a positive relationship with farmer’s net income (a proxy for farmer’s livelihood). Processing, however showed a negative relationship with farmer’s net income. Findings from the primary data collated indicate the need for the provision of good roads for easy access to markets by farmers. Secondly, there is the need to revisit the use of standardisation and scaling for the sale of some farm produce like maize and groundnuts among others. The Study also recommends that basic amenities like water and toilets in their communities, access to credit and regular interactions with agricultural extension officers for training on new strategies to better adapt against the negative effects of climate change should be provided. Furthermore, empowering local authorities through legislation in fighting against the indiscriminate cutting down of trees and protection of water bodies is crucial.