Determinants of Yam Farmers’ Adaptation Practices to Climate Variability in the Ejura Sekyedumase Municipality, Ghana

This study assessed the factors affecting yam farmers' adaptation practices to climate variability in the Ejura Sekyedumase Municipality, Ghana. Primary data was collected via 8 key informant interviews and 160 household surveys. The factors affecting the yam farmers’ choice of adaptation practices were assessed by using binary logistic regression. Findings revealed that the yam farmers perceived the variability in climate through changes in the onset of rain, fluctuating rainfall, increasing windstorms, and rising temperature patterns. The yam farmers perceived the critical effects of climate variability on their yam production to include a reduction in the yam yields (98%), decreased income of farmers (97%), and reduced fertility of the soil (97%). By responding to the perceived effects of the variability in climate, the yam farmers utilized key adaptation practices including changing the planting period of yam (88%), planting early-maturing yam seeds/varieties (86%), and intercropping yam with other crops (84%). The choice of adaptation practices implemented by the farmers was significantly affected by socioeconomic factors including age, years of stay in the community, household size, access to extension services, marital status, education, farming experience, access to climate information, estimated farm size, and estimated farm income (p < 0.05). The empirical findings of this study reinforce the importance of policymakers devising suitable adaptation policies for yam farmers in Ghana while taking into cognizance the socioeconomic determinants that affect their adoption of such adaptation practices