Impacts of changing climate on maize production in the transitional zone of Ghana. A case study of Nkoranza south municipality

Year 2018, , 164 - 170, 20.12.2018

Victor Adjei , Rosina Kyerematen

https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.18028

Abstract

This
study sought to assess the challenges and opportunities that come with climate
change and variability impacts on maize farming in the Nkoranza South
Municipality in the Transitional Zone of Ghana. The mixed method approach was
used in collecting the data. The results of the study showed that farmers had
observed changes in climate in the form of decreasing rainfall, rising air
temperatures and seasonal changes in rainfall pattern which were affecting
their maize farming operations. The major setbacks within the area were deficit
in rainy days and intermittent erratic rainfall affecting maize production. The
reduction in rainfall was corroborated by data obtained from Ghana
Meteorological Agency (GMet) which indicated that the dry cell between the
major and minor rainy seasons was getting wetter and the two seasons were
gradually merging whereas the first and last quarters of the year were getting
drier for a couple of decades. The situation over the last five years had
worsened as the amount of total rainfall had reduced by 22% compared to the
30year period between 1960 and 1982. The major opportunity available to farmers
in the face of changing climate in this agroecological zone was cashew
production. About 76.8% of the respondents had diversified into cashew farming.

Keywords

Climate change, Variability, Maize production, Transitional zone, Cashew farming

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