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 (qualitative and quantitative) was used in collecting the data. Rainfall data obtained from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) 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 over the last couple of decades. The situation over the last five years (2010-2015) had worsened as the amount of total rainfall had reduced by 22% compared to the 30 year period between 1960 and 1982. The results of the study showed that farmers had perceived 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 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 as a result of rainfall failure and strong resistance of the cashew trees to changing and variable climate.
References
[1]
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2007) Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. In: Parry, M.L., Canziani, O.F., Palutikof, J.P., van der Linden, P.J. and Hanson, C.E., Eds., Contribution of Working Group II to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1000.
[2]
Owusu, K., Waylen, P. and Qiu, Y. (2008) Changing Rainfall Inputs in the Volta Basin: Implications for Water Sharing in Ghana. Geo Journal, 71, 201-210.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-008-9156-6
[3]
Kyekyeku Nti, F. (2008) Climate Change Vulnerability and Coping Mechanisms among Farming Communities. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Agricultural Economics College of Agriculture, University of Ghana, Accra.
[4]
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2009) Ghana’s National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Zero Draft, Ministry of Environment Science and Technology, Accra.
[5]
Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) (2003) Agriculture in Ghana: Facts and Figures. Produced by the Statistics, Research and Information Directorate. Accra.
http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/a0013e/a0013e05.htm
[6]
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2000) Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment of Coastal Zone of Ghana. Final Report. Ministry of Environment Science and Technology, Accra.
[7]
WABS Consulting (2008) Draft Report: Maize Value Chain Study in Ghana: Enhancing Efficiency and Competiveness. WABS Consulting Ltd., Accra.
[8]
Statistics, Research and Information Directorate (SRID) (2010) Agriculture in Ghana (2009), Facts and Figures. Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra.
http://www.mofa.gov.gh/
[9]
Badu-Apraku, B., Hunter, R.B. and Tollenaar, M. (1983) Effect of Temperature during Grain Filling on Whole Plant and Grain Yield in Maize (Zea mays L.). Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 63, 357-363.
https://doi.org/10.4141/cjps83-040
[10]
Lobell, D.B., Burke, M.B., Tebaldi, C., Mastrandrea, M.D., Falcon, W.P. and Naylor, R.L. (2008) Prioritizing Climate Change Adaptation and Needs for Food Security in 2030. Science, 319, 607-610. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1152339
[11]
Yaro, J.A. (2010) The Social Dimensions of Adaptation to Climate Change in Ghana. The World Bank Discussion Paper No. 15. World Bank, Washington DC.
[12]
Owusu, K. and Waylen, P. (2009) Trends in Spatiotemporal Variability in Annual Rainfall in Ghana (1951-2000). Weather, 64, 115-120.
https://doi.org/10.1002/wea.255
[13]
Yaro, J.A., Dogbe, T.D., Bizikova, L., Bailey, P., Ahiable, G., Yahaya, T. and Salam, K.A. (2010) Development and Climate Change: The Social Dimensions of Adaptation to Climate Change in Ghana. Discussion Paper No. 15, World Bank, Washington DC.
[14]
GhanaDistricts (2007) District Profiles. http://www.ghanadistricts.com
[15]
Khan, H. and Ali, F. (2013) Measurement of Productive Efficiency of Tomato Growers in Peshawar, Pakistan. Agricultural Economics, 59, 381-388.
[16]
Adiku, S.G.K., Yangyuo M. and MacCarthy, D.S. (2013) Assessing the Potential Impact of Climate Change on Maize Production in Two Farming Zones of Ghana Using the CERES-Maize Model. Ghana Journal Policy 5 Climate Change in Ghana: Impacts on Agriculture and the Policy Implications. http://ieagh.org/
[17]
Stanturf, J.A., Warren, M.L., Charnley, S., Polasky, S.C., Goodrick, S.L., Arma, F. and Nyarko Y.A. (2011) Ghana Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment. US Agency for International Development, Washington DC.
[18]
Travasso, M.I., Graciela, O.M. and Gabriel, R.R., (2009) Climate Change Impacts on Regional Maize Yields and Possible Adaptation Measures in Argentina. International Journal of Global Warming, 1. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJGW.2009.027089
[19]
Fosu-Mensah, Y.B. (2012) Modelling Maize (Zea mays L.) Productivity and Impact of Climate Change on Yield and Nutrient Utilization in Sub-Humid Ghana. In: Vlek, P.L.G., Denich, M., Martius, C., Manschadi, A. and Bogardi, J., Eds., Ecology and Development Series No. 87, Cuvillier Verlag, Gottingen, 1-171.
