Factors Promoting Utilisation of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices in Northern Ghana

Abstract: This study examined the factors driving the adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) practices in Northern Ghana. In nine selected communities, 318 smallholder farmers were interviewed, comprising 115 adopters and 203 non-adopters of CSA practices. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the most common CSA practices in the area. Chi-square analysis and binary logistic regression were performed to examine which factors most likely influenced the use of the selected CSA practices. The study found that age, educational level, household size, access to extension and farmer-based organisations (FBO) membership of all smallholder farmers surveyed directly influenced smallholder farmers’ utilisation of CSA practices. As revealed in the study, up to 90% of the smallholder farmers in the study area were aware of the various CSA practices being examined. The study also showed that smallholder farmers frequently used on-farm composting, with the Chi-square test showing that access to extension services, household size, and educational attainment all had an impact on smallholder farmers' usage of on-farm composting. The study recommends that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) intensify extension service delivery on CSA practices to promote their adoption by smallholder farmers in the face of climate variability and change.

Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Utilisation, Greenhouse Gas and Smallholder

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