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Women farmers’ perceived indices of occurrence and severity of observed climate extremes in rural Savannah, Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Gordon Yenglier Yiridomoh

    (SD-Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies)

  • Samuel Ziem Bonye

    (SD-Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies)

  • Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile

    (SD-Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies
    Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST))

  • Victor Owusu

    (SD-Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies)

Abstract

Climate extremes over the years have been a major concern for the globalized world. The hardest hit from these climate extremes are women farmers with low adaptive capacity. This study explored women farmers’ perceived indices of occurrence and severity of observed climate extremes in rural Ghana. Employing the qualitative method approach, eight focus group discussions and 15 interviews were conducted with women farmers under Centre for Alleviation of Poverty, Environment and Child Support GROW Project. The study adopted the thematic analytical approach for the data analysis. The results of the study revealed that the occurrence of drought, flood and bush fires has been an annual phenomenon over the past decade. In terms of severity, women farmers also reported that climate extremes, when they occurred, were very intense, especially drought and bush fires. The results further indicated that rainfall and temperature variations were markedly observed with the prediction of rainfall in particular becoming extremely difficult. Evidently, women farmers observed that climate extremes were caused by deforestation, bush fires and neglect of veneration of ancestral spirits. Importantly, the study found that women have devised their own means of responding to climate extremes to include support networks, savings and spiritual assistance from ancestors for rain when there was prolonged drought. The study recommends the need for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology to forecast and display information on the yearly occurrence and severity of drought, flood and bush fires to complement women’s local knowledge in decision making.

Suggested Citation

  • Gordon Yenglier Yiridomoh & Samuel Ziem Bonye & Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile & Victor Owusu, 2022. "Women farmers’ perceived indices of occurrence and severity of observed climate extremes in rural Savannah, Ghana," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 810-831, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:24:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s10668-021-01471-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-021-01471-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Oyediran O. Oyebola & Jackson Efitre & Laban Musinguzi & Augustine E. Falaye, 2021. "Potential adaptation strategies for climate change impact among flood-prone fish farmers in climate hotspot Uganda," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(9), pages 12761-12790, September.
    2. Rodenberg, Birte, 2009. "Climate change adaptation from a gender perspective: a cross-cutting analysis of development-policy instruments," IDOS Discussion Papers 24/2009, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
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    4. Doss, Cheryl, 2011. "If women hold up half the sky, how much of the world's food do they produce?," ESA Working Papers 289017, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA).
    5. Maddison, David, 2007. "The perception of and adaptation to climate change in Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4308, The World Bank.
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