文章基本信息

标题：Using a mixed-method approach to explore the spatiality of adaptation practices of tomato farmers to climate variability in the Offinso North District, Ghana
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作者：Lawrence Guodaar ; Alphonsus Beni ; Patrick Benebere 等
期刊名称：Cogent Social Sciences
电子版ISSN：2331-1886
出版年度：2017
卷号：3
期号：1
页码：1273747
DOI：10.1080/23311886.2016.1273747
出版社：Taylor and Francis Ltd
摘要：There is a general scientific consensus that anthropogenic forces are the major cause of global climatic changes. The study explored the spatiality of adaptation strategies of farmers to climate variability in the Offinso North District of Ghana using the mixed method approach. Structured questionnaire and focus group discussion guide were the data collection instruments for a cross-section of 378 tomato farmers in selected study communities in the District. Farmers demonstrated their awareness of climatic changes through some characteristics such temperature rise, unpredictable and reduction in rainfall, incidence of floods, intensity in solar radiation and prolong drought conditions. The study also showed that tomato farmers in the study communities employed both on-farm and off-farm adaptive strategies in response to the effects of climate variability on tomato production. Spatially, mixed cropping, crop diversification, application of agrochemicals, changes in farm location, changes in crop variety, irrigation, migration and diversification to non-farm activities were the adaptation practices of the farmers. Spatially, the on-farm adaptation strategies were uniformly practiced across the study communities unlike the off-farm adaptation practices that slightly varied across space. The regression results showed that location has significant influence on some adaptation practices, especially changes in farm location (p .005), changes in crop variety (p .005), application of agrochemicals (p .005) and irrigation practices (p ≤ .005). An enabling environment should be created by the government to enable the youth get access to finance and other subsidized farming logistics (e.g. modern irrigation logistics) to boost their morale in the tomato business.
关键词：spatial;climate variability;tomato;Offinso North District;Ghana