FACTORS INFLUENCING ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO COPE WITH CLIMATE VARIABILITY: A STUDY OF MAIZE FARMERS IN MION DISTRICT OF NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

The study seeks to examine the factors that influence the choice of climate variability adaptation strategies employed by
maize farmers in the Mion District of the Northern Region of Ghana. Based on unfavourable climate experience, maize
farmers in Ghana including farmers in the Mion District of the Northern region of Ghana, have been introduced to climate
variability adaptation strategies to increase the resilience of smallholder farmers to climate variability. The study used a
multi-stage sampling technique to select 140 household respondents for the study. Ordered logit regression model was
applied to identify factors influencing the choice of climate variability adaptation strategies. The findings revealed that the
smallholder farmers in the district practice a range of climate variability adaptation strategies, which include changing
planting dates, improved maize varieties, inorganic fertilizer application, making ridges, and diversifying into non-farm
activities. The ordered probit model results revealed that the factors influencing farmers’ choice of climate variability
adaptation strategies include age, gender, income level, level of education of household head and membership of FBO. The
study recommends policy focus on the adaptive capacity of maize farmers through input subsidy, access to credit,
encouraging farmers to form groups, and sensitization of farmers on climate variability and climate change.

Keywords: Climate Variability, Adaptation Strategies, Influential Factors, Maize Farming,
Extension Services