Abstract
The need to adapt to the changing climate is one of the important concerns of our time. However, the use of local ecological knowledge (LEK), which farmers have built up over the years to adopt climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices, has been less explored by researchers and policy scientists. Leveraging on LEK, this study explores various local CSA practices, their benefits and management constraints and suggests ways to improve local CSA practices to enhance farmers’ resilience to climate change (CC). We conducted eight focus group discussions (FGD) in eight farming communities in the Western region of Ghana. The data from the FGD was complemented by secondary data from sources such as peer-reviewed journal articles, organisational websites, and quarterly reports. The study found that farmers used LEK to identify key local CSA practices, including agroforestry, cover cropping, crop rotation, mulching, and mixed cropping. However, some of their farming practices are not consistent with sustainable agricultural practices. Key issues that need immediate attention include (i) limited access to agricultural inputs prevented farmers from adopting CSA, (ii) land tenure issues adversely affected access to arable land for farming, (iii) inadequate agricultural training for farmers on CSA practices, (iv) limited access to agricultural information on CSA options, and (v) high labour-intensive activities for some CSA practices. We maintain that governmental efforts to improve local CSA, and in the context of increasing resilience of farmers and local communities, need to engage relevant stakeholders and communities to formulate and develop an effective climate-smart agricultural action plan. The policy implications of these findings and recommendations for future research are also discussed and documented.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Source. Author´s construct
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adhikari U, Nejadhashemi AP, Woznicki SA (2015) Climate change and eastern Africa: a review of impact on major crops. Food Energy Secur 4:110–132. https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.61
Ajani E (2013) Use of indigenous knowledge as a strategy for climate change adaptation among farmers in sub-Saharan Africa: implications for policy. Asian J Agric Ext Econ Sociol 2:23–40. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajaees/2013/1856
Arbuckle JG, Morton LW, Hobbs J (2013) Farmer beliefs and concerns about climate change and attitudes toward adaptation and mitigation: evidence from Iowa. Clim Change 118:551–563. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-013-0700-0
Asseng S, Ewert F, Rosenzweig C et al (2013) Uncertainty in simulating wheat yields under climate change. Nat Clim Chang. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1916
Ayeri OS, Christian VR, Josef E, Michael H (2012) Local perceptions and responses to climate change and variability: The case of Laikipia District. Sustainability, Kenya. https://doi.org/10.3390/su4123302
Bella F, Porcarelli L, Mantione D et al (2020) A water-based and metal-free dye solar cell exceeding 7% efficiency using a cationic poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) derivative. Chem Sci 11:1485–1493. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9SC05596G
Brahene SW (2013) Dynamics of soil carbon sequestration under oil palm plantations at different ages, Doctoral Dissertation. University of Ghana
Branca G, McCarthy N, Lipper L, Jolejole MC (2011) Climate-smart agriculture: a synthesis of empirical evidence of food security and mitigation benefits from improved cropland management. Mitig Clim Chang Agric Ser 3:1–42
Challinor A, Wheeler T, Garforth C et al (2007) Assessing the vulnerability of food crop systems in Africa to climate change. Clim Change. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-007-9249-0
Chandra A, Dargusch P, McNamara KE et al (2017) A study of climate-smart farming practices and climate-resiliency field schools in Mindanao, the Philippines. World Dev 98:214–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.04.028
Chinsinga B, Chasukwa M (2012) Youth agriculture and land grabs in Malawi. IDS Bull. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1759-5436.2012.00380.x
Dai A (2013) Increasing drought under global warming in observations and models. Nat Clim Chang 3:52–58. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1633
Duruigbo CI, Ibeawuchi II, Aja OO, Ejiogu-Okereke EN (2011) Indigenous technologies for adaptation and mitigation of climate change in sub-Saharan Africa. Int J Agric Rural Dev 14(2):630–637
Fagiolari L, Bella F (2019) Carbon-based materials for stable, cheaper and large-scale processable perovskite solar cells. Energy Environ Sci 12:3437–3472. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EE02115A
Hatfield JL, Boote KJ, Kimball BA et al (2011) Climate impacts on agriculture: implications for crop production. Agron J. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2010.0303
Hsieh HF, Shannon SE (2005) Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qual Health Res 15:1277–1288. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732305276687
IPCC (2007) Climate change 2007: the physical science basis. In: Avery KB, Tignor M, Miller HL (eds) Contribution of working group I to the fourth assessment report of the IPCC. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
IPCC (2011) IPCC Introduces New “Climate Change Definition” (IPCC Website)
Jabran K (2019a) Mulches for soil and water conservation. In: Role of Mulching in pest management and agricultural sustainability. SpringerBriefs in Plant Science. pp 33–39
Jabran K (2019b) Mulches for weed control. In: Role of Mulching in pest management and agricultural sustainability. pp 15–25
Johnson MK, Lien AM, Sherman NR, López-Hoffman L (2018) Barriers to PES programs in indigenous communities: a lesson in land tenure insecurity from the Hopi Indian reservation. Ecosyst Serv 32:62–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2018.05.009
Juana JS, Kahaka Z, Okurut FN (2013) Farmers’ perceptions and adaptations to climate change in sub-Sahara Africa: a synthesis of empirical studies and implications for public policy in African Agriculture. J Agric Sci. https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v5n4p121
Kang Y, Khan S, Ma X (2009) Climate change impacts on crop yield, crop water productivity and food security—a review. Prog Nat Sci 19:1665–1674. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnsc.2009.08.001
Karuma A, Mtakwa P, Amuri N et al (2014) Tillage effects on selected soil physical properties in a Maize-bean intercropping system in Mwala District, Kenya. Int Sch Res Not 2014:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/497205
Kemausuor F, Dwamena E, Bart-plange A, Kyei-baffour N (2011) Farmers’ perception of climate change in the Ejura-Sekyedumase District of Ghana. J Agric Biol Sci 6:26–38
Khatri-Chhetri A, Aggarwal PK, Joshi PK, Vyas S (2017) Farmers’ prioritization of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies. Agric Syst 151:184–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2016.10.005
Khatri-Chhetri A, Pant A, Aggarwal PK et al (2019) Stakeholders prioritization of climate-smart agriculture interventions: evaluation of a framework. Agric Syst 174:23–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2019.03.002
Kitzinger J (1994) The methodology of Focus Groups: the importance of interaction between research participants. Sociol Heal Illn 16:103–121. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.ep11347023
Kotir JH (2011) Climate change and variability in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review of current and future trends and impacts on agriculture and food security. Environ Dev Sustain 13:587–605. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-010-9278-0
Lei Y, Liu C, Zhang L, Luo S (2016) How smallholder farmers adapt to agricultural drought in a changing climate: a case study in southern China. Land use policy 55:300–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.04.012
Lemade E, Bouillet J (2005) Carbon storage and global change: the role of oil palm. Ol Corps Gras Lipides 12:154–160
Leonard S, Parsons M, Olawsky K, Kofod F (2013) The role of culture and traditional knowledge in climate change adaptation: insights from East Kimberley, Australia. Glob Environ Chang 23:623–632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2013.02.012
Limantol AM, Keith BE, Azabre BA, Lennartz B (2016) Farmers’ perception and adaptation practice to climate variability and change: a case study of the Vea catchment in Ghana. Springerplus 5:830. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-016-2433-9
Lwasa S (2011) The role of urban and peri-urban agriculture in enhancing food security and climate change resilience in East and West African Cities. In: START grants for global change research in Africa. Final project report for 2011 START grants for global change research in Africa, pp 1–103
Makate C (2019) Effective scaling of climate smart agriculture innovations in African smallholder agriculture: a review of approaches, policy and institutional strategy needs. Environ Sci Policy 96:37–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2019.01.014
Makate C, Makate M, Mango N, Siziba S (2019) Increasing resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change through multiple adoption of proven climate-smart agriculture innovations. Lessons from Southern Africa. J Environ Manage 231:858–868. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.10.069
Mango N, Makate C, Tamene L et al (2018) Adoption of small-scale irrigation farming as a climate-smart agriculture practice and its influence on household income in the Chinyanja Triangle. Land, Southern Africa. https://doi.org/10.3390/land7020049
Manning M, Lawrence J, King DN, Chapman R (2015) Dealing with changing risks: a New Zealand perspective on climate change adaptation. Reg Environ Chang 15:581–594. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-014-0673-1
Mapfumo P, Mtambanengwe F, Chikowo R (2016) Building on indigenous knowledge to strengthen the capacity of smallholder farming communities to adapt to climate change and variability in southern Africa. Clim Dev 8:72–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2014.998604
Mavhura E, Manyena SB, Collins AE, Manatsa D (2013) Indigenous knowledge, coping strategies and resilience to floods in Muzarabani. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct, Zimbabwe. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2013.07.001
McBride MB (1995) Environmental science: earth as a living planet. J Environ Qual 24:1040–1041. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1995.00472425002400050040x
McQuarrie EF, Krueger RA (1989) Focus groups: a practical guide for applied research. J Mark Res 26:371. https://doi.org/10.2307/3172912
Mujeyi A (2020) policy and institutional dimensions in climate-smart agriculture adoption: case of rural communities in Zimbabwe. Handbook of climate change resilience. Springer, Cham, pp 1611–1625
Muller C, Cramer W, Hare WL, Lotze-Campen H (2011) Climate change risks for African agriculture. Proc Natl Acad Sci 108:4313–4315. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1015078108
Naaminong K, Botchway V-A, Essegbey GO et al (2016) Climate-Smart agricultural practices in Ghana. Ghana, Accra
Nchanji YK, Nkongho RN, Mala WA, Levang P (2016) Efficacy of oil palm intercropping by smallholders. Case study in South-West Cameroon. Agro for Syst 90:509–519. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-015-9873-z
Nciizah AD, Wakindiki IIC (2015) Climate smart agriculture: achievements and prospects in Africa. J Geosci Environ Prot. https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2015.36016
Nicholson S (2001) Climatic and environmental change in Africa during the last two centuries. Clim Res 17:123–144. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr017123
Nkomoki W, Bavorová M, Banout J (2018) Adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and food security threats: effects of land tenure in Zambia. Land Use policy 78:532–538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.07.021
Nyasimi M, Kimeli P, Sayula G et al (2017) Adoption and dissemination pathways for climate-smart agriculture technologies and practices for climate-resilient livelihoods in Lushoto, Northeast Tanzania. Climate. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli5030063
Nyong A, Adesina F, Osman Elasha B (2007) The value of indigenous knowledge in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in the African Sahel. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Chang. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-007-9099-0
Owusu F (2007) Conceptualizing livelihood strategies in African cities: planning and development implications of multiple livelihood strategies. J Plan Educ Res. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X06298818
Oyedepo SO (2012) Energy and sustainable development in Nigeria: the way forward. Energy Sustain Soc 2:15. https://doi.org/10.1186/2192-0567-2-15
Patel SK, Sharma A, Singh GS (2020) Traditional agricultural practices in India: an approach for environmental sustainability and food security. Energy Ecol Environ 5(4):253–271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40974-020-00158-2
Piana G, Bella F, Geobaldo F et al (2019) PEO/LAGP hybrid solid polymer electrolytes for ambient temperature lithium batteries by solvent-free, “one pot” preparation. J Energy Storage 26:100947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2019.100947
Powell RA, Single HM, PoweIl RA (1996) Focus groups is a focus group? Int J Qual Heal Care 8:499–504
Rankoana SA (2016) Perceptions of climate change and the potential for adaptation in a rural community in Limpopo province, South Africa. Sustain 8:672. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8080672
Rapp D (2014) Anthropogenic influences on climate change. Assessing climate change. Springer, Cham, pp 533–595
Roudier P, Sultan B, Quirion P, Berg A (2011) The impact of future climate change on West African crop yields: what does the recent literature say? Glob Environ Chang. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.04.007
Samedani B, Juraimi AS, Rafii MY et al (2015) Effect of cover crops on weed suppression in oil palm plantation. Int J Agric Biol 17:251–260
Santos F, Urbina A, Abad J et al (2020) Environmental and economical assessment for a sustainable Zn/air battery. Chemosphere 250:126273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126273
Senyolo MP, Long TB, Blok V, Omta O (2018) How the characteristics of innovations impact their adoption: an exploration of climate-smart agricultural innovations in South Africa. J Clean Prod. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.06.019
Simons AJ, Leakey RRB (2004) Tree domestication in tropical agroforestry. In: Nair PKR, Rao MR, Buck LE (eds) New vistas in agroforestry. Advances in agroforestry. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 167–181
Singh R, Singh GS (2017) Traditional agriculture: a climate-smart approach for sustainable food production. Energy Ecol Environ 2(5):296–316. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40974-017-0074-7
Sissoko K, van Keulen H, Verhagen J et al (2011) Agriculture, livelihoods and climate change in the West African Sahel. Reg Environ Chang 11:119–125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-010-0164-y
Thornton PK, Herrero M (2015) Adapting to climate change in the mixed crop and livestock farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Nat. Clim, Chang
Tongco MDC (2007) Purposive sampling as a tool for informant selection. Ethnobot Res Appl 5:147–158. https://doi.org/10.17348/era.5.0.147-158
United Nations (1992) United Nations framework convention on climate change. NewYork
Vermeulen SJ, Aggarwal PK, Ainslie A et al (2012) Options for support to agriculture and food security under climate change. Environ Sci Policy 15:136–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2011.09.003
Vijayavenkataraman S, Iniyan S, Goic R (2012) A review of climate change, mitigation and adaptation. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 16:878–897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.09.009
Ziervogel G, Cartwright AT, Adejuwon J, Zermoglio F, Shale M SB (2008) Climate change and adaptation in agriculture, prepared for Rockefeller Foundation by Stockholm environment Institute, Stockholm
Zougmoré RB, Partey ST, Totin E et al (2019) Science-policy interfaces for sustainable climate-smart agriculture uptake: lessons learnt from national science-policy dialogue platforms in West Africa. Int J Agric Sustain 17:367–382. https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2019.1670934
Acknowledgements
We wish to express our profound gratitude to the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments, which helped us to improve the earlier version of the manuscript.
Funding
Not applicable
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
HM contributed to the study conception and design. HM, DKA, SAT, and OA performed material preparation, data collection, and analysis. The first draft of the manuscript was written by HM. DKA, SAT, and OA reviewed the first draft manuscript. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mensah, H., Ahadzie, D.K., Takyi, S.A. et al. Climate change resilience: lessons from local climate-smart agricultural practices in Ghana. Energ. Ecol. Environ. 6, 271–284 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40974-020-00181-3
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40974-020-00181-3