Climate Change and Shift in Cropping Systems: from Cocoa to Maize Cropping System in Wenchi, Ghana PDF Download
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Author: M. Kermah Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages : 58
Book Description
This study was conducted to analyse the perceived changes in climate and the effects on changes in cropping systems in Wenchi. The objectives of the study were to provide a historical analysis of the current and past cropping systems, identify the key drivers responsible for the shift in the cropping systems and the adaptation strategies of the farmers and other relevant stakeholders. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with were held with farmers. Stratified sampling was used for selecting respondents for the interviews and the focus group discussion. Interviews were also held with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Wenchi and the Forestry Services Division. The results show that indeed, there has been a shift from cocoa to maize based cropping systems with maize replacing cocoa as the main cash crop. It was also found that the shift was prompted by the decline in the yields of cocoa over the years which are likely due to the changes in rainfall even though other factors including vegetation, land tenure system and soil fertility might also play a role. It was also concluded that the subsequent difficulty in re-establishing cocoa after the 1983 bushfires may be due to the combined effect of changes in rainfall and the annual bushfires during the dry season. In terms of adaptation, it was found that all the stakeholders; farmers, MoFA and FSD are unable to do much about the observed changes in climate and the cropping systems.
Author: M. Kermah Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages : 58
Book Description
This study was conducted to analyse the perceived changes in climate and the effects on changes in cropping systems in Wenchi. The objectives of the study were to provide a historical analysis of the current and past cropping systems, identify the key drivers responsible for the shift in the cropping systems and the adaptation strategies of the farmers and other relevant stakeholders. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with were held with farmers. Stratified sampling was used for selecting respondents for the interviews and the focus group discussion. Interviews were also held with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Wenchi and the Forestry Services Division. The results show that indeed, there has been a shift from cocoa to maize based cropping systems with maize replacing cocoa as the main cash crop. It was also found that the shift was prompted by the decline in the yields of cocoa over the years which are likely due to the changes in rainfall even though other factors including vegetation, land tenure system and soil fertility might also play a role. It was also concluded that the subsequent difficulty in re-establishing cocoa after the 1983 bushfires may be due to the combined effect of changes in rainfall and the annual bushfires during the dry season. In terms of adaptation, it was found that all the stakeholders; farmers, MoFA and FSD are unable to do much about the observed changes in climate and the cropping systems.
Author: Alexander Lotsch Publisher: World Bank Publications ISBN: Category : Agriculture Languages : en Pages : 33
Book Description
The detailed analysis of current cropping areas in Africa presented here reveals significant climate sensitivities of cropland density and distribution across a variety of agro-ecosystems. Based on empirical climate-cropland relationships, cropland density responds positively to increases in precipitation in semi-arid and arid zones of the sub-tropics and warmer temperatures in higher elevations. As a result, marginal increases in seasonal precipitation lead to denser cropping areas in arid and semi-arid regions. Warmer temperatures, on the other hand, tend to decrease the probability of cropping in most parts of Africa (the opposite is true for increases in rainfall and decreases in temperatures relative to current conditions). Despite discrepancies and uncertainties in climate model output, the analysis suggests that cropland area in Africa is likely to decrease significantly in response to transient changes in climate. The continent is expected to have lost on average 4.1 percent of its cropland by 2039, and 18.4 percent is likely to have disappeared by the end of the century. In some regions of Africa the losses in cropland area are likely to occur at a much faster rate, with northern and eastern Africa losing up to 15 percent of their current cropland area within the next 30 years or so. Gains in cropland area in western and southern Africa due to projected increases in precipitation during the earlier portions of the century will be offset by losses later on. In conjunction with existing challenges in the agricultural sector in Africa, these findings demand sound policies to manage existing agricultural lands and the productivity of cropping systems.
Author: Lord K. Ameyaw Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages : 138
Book Description
Global demand of cocoa for chocolate moved the native cocoa production frontier from ancient Maya and Aztec to other favorable tropical locations around the world. Cocoa growing arrived in West Africa sometime by the late 1800s and was an instant success story. A massive investment in the form of expansion of lands under cultivation, intensification driven by improved varieties/systems and a plethora of farming incentives have led West Africa to supply more than half of the world's cocoa. Cocoa agroforestry provides a livelihood for many smallholder farmers and significant contribution to national economies; however, it also results in deforestation and land degradation. The traditional cocoa agroforestry system in highly forested tropical regions, utilized shade cocoa systems and require overhead canopy and favorable humidity to thrive. Thus, lands suitable for forest reserves or timber production, are also suitable for cocoa production. Land conversion of biodiverse High Forests in Ghana, part of the global biodiversity hotspot of the West African Guinean forest landscape, have allowed Ghana to become the second largest global cocoa producing nation. Cocoa led deforestation dominates the reported 2% rate of deforestation. In order to curb cocoa-led deforestation, it is essential to understand the crucial social, economic and environmental underpinnings of cocoa production. This study focuses on determining land use change and deforestation in the Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve, one of the most important cocoa producing areas of Ghana. Land use types are regulated within the reserve and timber production and protected area inside the reserve were compared with areas immediately outside the forest reserve over a 17-year period using multispectral satellite images acquired from Landsat and Sentinel earth observatory programs. A two-step land use pattern of change was observed, with closed forest land changing to open forest, and open forests were converted to croplands. These changes were mostly observed in areas of the forest reserve which have been technically designated as a production zone for wood/timber harvesting and admitted farming, in comparison to the areas specifically maintained for forest protection. Tree species composition varied significantly among the two broad management zones in comparison to uncultivated land within the forest reserve. Classifying tree species into ecological guilds depicts a natural reference condition of shade tolerant species, with non-pioneer light demanders among natural regeneration encountered in uncultivated areas. In contrast with other areas of the reserve where cocoa farming is interspersed with forests, regeneration of shade tolerant species is rare, with a greater amount of species as non-pioneer light demanders and pioneer species. Species composition of adult trees also showed a pattern of higher proportions of economically valuable species on cocoa farms compared with natural forest areas that are more diverse and have species represented in all the economic valuation classes of trees. In essence, cocoa farming promotes deforestation and species compositional changes that unequivocally present a challenge for forest management, particularly where objectives of cocoa farming and forestry are both emphasized within a broad land use category. This study suggests timber production and cocoa production, two vital industries in Ghana are connected with initial cutting leading conversion to cocoa. Cocoa production is susceptible to climatic variations which may be mitigated by environmentally friendly shaded cocoa production which effectively reduce associated deforestation. However, once cocoa farms are established, reduction of shade trees increases forest degradation, as farmers seek to increase cocoa yields. Therefore, land use change and the physical environment are interconnected. Since cocoa cultivation is essential to many livelihoods in Ghana, a changing global climate is of concern to smallholder cocoa farmers. Understanding cocoa farmers' perceptions on topics of climate change and its impacts are thus necessary to assess the potential of recent economic incentives to enhance sustainable cocoa production. A social survey of farmers' perception/knowledge of climate change and its potential effect on cocoa production was conducted to assess beliefs. I examined the potential of economic incentives of a REDD+ climate mitigation strategy as an alternative income generating avenue to maintain lower intensity, shaded cocoa production. Farmers' perceptions of climate were not in agreement with empirical data. Although farmers recognize the need to protect trees to provide ecosystem benefits, the system of direct monetary benefits associated with tree protection/maintenance presents a challenge for the success of integrating climate change mitigation strategies (REDD+) into cocoa farming. Common farm/cultural practices of cocoa farmers (e.g. slash and burn) may also degrade land, reducing forest biodiversity and releasing carbon.
Author: Anna Laven Publisher: Kit Pub ISBN: 9789460221118 Category : Agriculture and state Languages : en Pages : 0
Book Description
This book provides a detailed description and analysis of upgrading opportunities for small-scale cocoa farmers in Ghana. It shows how and why producers do, or do not, benefit from being inserted in a global value chain that is increasingly driven by multinational cocoa processors and chocolate manufacturers. The study contributes to the recent discussions on hybrid governance structures, in which both public and private actors play a role. Ghana provides a unique case because, unlike in other West African countries, its cocoa sector is only partially liberalized. The state still plays a strong role in the cocoa market. As "balancer", the state mitigates some of the risks involved in cocoa production for producers and international buyers of cocoa. However, the state is also a "bottleneck", as it prevents other public, private and civil actors from playing a more active role in the supply chain. The study explores the processes of in- and exclusion of cocoa farmers in value chains and highlights two risks of inclusion. First, for producers the arrangements within the chain are sub-optimal, and do not create incentives for farmers to behave as entrepreneurs. Moreover, farmers do not benefit equally from the arrangements in place. Second, the state is inward oriented and lacks an adaptive approach to global market changes, which entails a risk for the sector as a whole.
Author: Charles Yamoah Publisher: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing ISBN: 9783844391046 Category : Languages : en Pages : 60
Book Description
Key concerns in Africa are: 1) recurrent famine due to uncertain rainfall patterns, 2) poor crop yield resulting from low soil fertility and 3) poverty. Examples of climate-induced problems in some African countries namely Niger, The Gambia, Cameroon, Mali, Senegal, Ghana and Rwanda are cited. Research data show that the impact of weather variability on crop yield can be mitigated. People, livestock, and plants live and die on the planet and atmospheric CO2 and greenhouse gases continue to rise, regardless of location. Farmer-affordable technologies to mitigate effects of these problems have been demonstrated and are discussed here. Our emphasis is on soil and crop management after land-use change; therefore, our findings are supported by data on moisture conservation, fertilizer and manure applications, agroforestry, soil carbon, residue management, water balance, cropping systems and risk analysis from specific sites in Africa. Integrated pest management as influenced by variability in climate with respect to rice, cocoa and coffee has also been reviewed. This review seeks to inform researchers, policy-makers, extension agents, students and farmers on some mitigation strategies.
Author: Polly Hill Publisher: LIT Verlag Münster ISBN: 9783825830854 Category : Business & Economics Languages : en Pages : 332
Book Description
The economic and social organisation of Ghanaian cocoa-farming is very complex, reflecting differences in population density, land tenure, accessibility, soil fertility and other factors. The 'small peasant', with his two or three acre farms, is one type of farmer, and it has always been supposed that it was he who created the world's largest cocoa-growing industry. The migration of southern Ghanaian cocoa-farmers, which has been proceeding since the 1890s, was not known to have occurred; and this study shows that it was the migrant, not the 'peasant', who was the real innovator. This migrant has scarcely been mentioned in the literature. Author Polly Hill now gives a full account of his migration, 'one of the great events in the recent economic history of Africa south of the Sahara'. The migrant farmer, who rather resembles a 'capitalist' than a 'peasant', buys land (or inherits it from those who bought before him) and conventionally uses the proceeds from one cocoa land to purchase others. It is now possible with the aid of farm-maps to study the whole migratory process, with its changing pattern of land ownership, over more than half a century. The results are revealing. The conventional notion that it was only recently that West Africans began to engage in large-scale economic enterprises is shown to be false. One of the main contentions of this book is that the migrant farmer has been remarkably responsive to economic ends. It is further shown that there is no incompatibility between this kind of enterprise and the continuance of traditional forms of social organisation: nor is there evidence that the enterprising individual found himself hampered by the demands made on him by members of his lineage. In analysing and recording the details of the migratory process, Dr. Hill has made an important contribution to the economic history of West Africa. Besides the economists and economic historians for whom the book is primarily intended, it should be studied by lawyers, geographers, social anthropologists, and all concerned with problems of underdevelopment.
Author: Kolavalli, Shashidhara Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst ISBN: 0896292681 Category : Social Science Languages : en Pages : 214
Book Description
After almost 20 years of declining cocoa production, Ghana has been able in the last decade to increase the share of export prices going to producers and more than double production. Contrary to Washington Consensus prescriptions, these accomplishments were achieved through reforms that did not include market liberalization. In The Cocoa Coast: The Board-Managed Cocoa Sector in Ghana, the authors identify factors that have contributed to Ghana’s success in cocoa production. These include the accountability of the government for the sector’s performance (cocoa-sector performance being seen as a key dimension of economic management), its interest in maintaining the ability to raise funds globally as a reliable supplier of high-quality cocoa, and its policy of retaining a portion of producer revenues to promote the adoption of yield-enhancing measures. The authors also suggest how Ghana can improve the efficiency of the cocoa sector through measures such as increased transparency and curtailing services that would be better provided by the private sector. The Cocoa Coast will be a valuable resource for policy makers, development specialists, and others interested in different national development paths.
Author: David Maddison Publisher: World Bank Publications ISBN: Category : Climate change research Languages : en Pages : 25
Book Description
Abstract: This paper uses the Ricardian approach to examine how farmers in 11 countries in Africa have adapted to existing climatic conditions. It then estimates the effects of predicted changes in climate while accounting for whatever farmer adaptation might occur. This study differs from earlier ones by using farmers' own perceptions of the value of their land. Previous research, by contrast, has relied on either observed sale prices or net revenues, sometimes aggregated over geographically large tracts of terrain. The study also makes use of high resolution data describing soil quality and runoff. Furthermore, it tackles the challenges involved in modeling the effect of climate on agriculture in a study that includes countries in the northern and southern hemispheres, as well as the tropics. The study confirms that African agriculture is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Even with perfect adaptation, regional climate change by 2050 is predicted to entail production losses of 19.9 percent for Burkina Faso and 30.5 percent for Niger. By contrast, countries such as Ethiopia and South Africa are hardly affected at all, suffering productivity losses of only 1.3 percent and 3 percent, respectively. The study also confirms the importance of water supplies as measured by runoff, which, being affected by both temperature and precipitation, may itself be highly sensitive to climate change.
Author: M. Kermah
Author: M. Kermah
Author: Alexander Lotsch
Author: Lord K. Ameyaw
Author: Anna Laven
Author: Charles Yamoah
Author: Polly Hill
Author: Kolavalli, Shashidhara
Author: 
Author: Emmanuel Dormon
Author: David Maddison