Climate compatible agriculture : interfacing scientific, indigenous and local knowledge in the Upper West Region, Northern Ghana

Abstract

Climate change is a daunting challenge to smallholder agriculture in northern Ghana over the years. Climatic conditions continue to demonstrate significant levels of variability on annual and decadal bases, making smallholder agriculture more vulnerable. The aim of the study was to explore the potential use of local and indigenous knowledge of smallholder farmers in promoting climate compatible agriculture in northern Ghana and how this interface with scientific knowledge. To respond to the study aim, four research objectives were spelt out and these are further elaborated upon in chapter 1 under section 1.4. The study adopted a mixed methods research design where quantitative and qualitative approaches were used in data collection and analyses. Data were collected through a household survey, face-to-face interviews, observation, and focus groups discussions. Participants for the face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions were purposively selected, while participants for the household survey were selected through cluster and simple random sampling approaches. The quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS version 20) and Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Office 365), and thematic analyses conducted for the qualitative data. The study found that smallholder farmers’ perceptions of increasing variability of rainfall and temperature patterns in North-western Ghana were confirmed by meteorological data where annual rainfall was decreasing with increasing annual temperatures over the past decades. It was also revealed that smallholder farmers employed multiple farm and non-farm-based strategies by interfacing scientific, local and indigenous knowledge systems to promote climate compatible agriculture. There were also varied levels of awareness on climate compatible farming practices among smallholder farmers with the need for more awareness creation scientific-based practices. It further emerged that smallholder farmers’ decisions to adopt local and indigenous knowledge-based climate compatible practices were variedly influenced by accessibility, reliability, and awareness of knowledge; access to farm capital; land tenure; access to extension services; household demographic characteristics; landscape and farm distance; and socio-cultural beliefs. Based on the key findings and conclusions emerging from the work, several interventions are suggested. These include sensitisation, education, and training of smallholder farmers on climate compatible practices that effectively mainstream local and indigenous knowledge into scientific practices to improve capacities and enhance increased productivity and food security that should be prioritised by all stakeholders in the agriculture value-chain in northern Ghana. The thesis is another value-add to the growing body of knowledge in Ghana and globally that will enhance policy reformation in the area of focus. Furthermore, new knowledge gaps that emerged can either be taken up for postdoctoral work or by other scholars.