Browsing by Author "Guodaar Lawrence"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Building climate resilience through crop residue utilization: Experiences of Ghanaian smallholder farmers
    (wileyonlinelibrary.com, 2023) Antwi- Agyei Philip; Aidoo Atta Jonathan; Guodaar Lawrence; Dougill Andrew; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8599-474X
    Amajor limiting factor affecting the uptake of conservation agriculture practices in smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa is the limited availability of sufficient crop residues for use as surface mulch. This paper assesses the trade-offs in crop residue utilization among smallholder farmers and its implications for soil management in the face of climate change risks in northern Ghana. The paper triangulated data from 350 household surveys with participatory key informant interviews fromseven selected communities in three districts of northern Ghana. The problem confrontation index (PCI) was adopted to identify and rank the challenges associated with farmers’ decision to use crop residues, while a multivariate probit model was used to analyse and predict the factors that influence farmers’ choice of crop residue management practices. Results showed that crop residues were used as cooking fuel in households (21%), livestock feed (21%), left on the farm to decompose as mulch (34%) or burned to clear the land (24%). Key challenges identified included high labour cost (PCI = 404), high labour intensity (PCI = 388), the cost and transport for collection and storage of externally sourced crop residue (PCI = 383) and the low benefit from crop residue to farm output/soil fertility (PCI = 339). Results from the multivariate probit model revealed that household and farm variables, institutional and socio-psychological factors, and experience of some climate shocks all influence farmers’ choice of crop residue management practices.Crop residue use and management practices adopted were determined by factors including the crops being grown, challenges faced by farmers and the management options available. The study recommends the need for the Government of Ghana to empower farmers through the provision of technical knowledge and machinery for the sustainable utilization of crop residues due to the high labour intensity and cost associated with such practices.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Farmers response to climate variability and change in rainfed farming systems: Insight from lived experiences of farmers
    (Heliyon, 2023) Antwi- Agyei Philip; Yeleliere Enoch; Guodaar Lawrence; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8599-474X
    Climate adaptation, while urgent, is complicated by a slew of unknowns and uncertainties through insufficient scholarship. This study addresses these slews of unknowns surrounding local adaptation to climate change and associated determinants among rainfed smallholder farmers in rural Ghana. We utilized a mixed-method approach to collect primary data from 410 households, 15 key informants and 10 focus group participants coupled with meteorological data from the Ghana Meteorological Agency, Accra (GMet). Results from meteorological analysis from 1989 to 2020 and farmers’ perceptions showed a consistent pattern exemplifying a temperature rise, and a decline in rainfall pattern in the study area over the period. Rainfed smallholder farmers employed multiple coping strategies including—cognitive restructuring, resource seeking, experiential avoidance, expressive coping, capital disinvestment and relying on social networks to deal with current and future climate shocks. Also, key adaptation interventions implemented by rainfed smallholder farmers based on lived experiences include farm and crop management, soil and water conservation, conservation agricultural practices, smart-farming practices and cropping decisions, livelihood diversification and indigenous knowledge application. Market access, access to climate information/services, access to extension services, use of indigenous knowledge and practice, risk perception, and government support, livestock ownership, asset ownership, credit access, and farm insurance significantly increase rainfed smallholder farmers’ decision to cope/adapt to climate variability in rural Ghana. However, improved soil fertility and farm labour significantly influenced rainfed smallholder farmers’ adaptation response but not coping. The findings have implications for developing effective adaptation interventions to build resilient agricultural systems and sustainable livelihood in rainfed farming areas.