Abstract
The unsustainable exploitation of natural resources combined with climate change and poor agroecosystem management practices has left the semi-arid areas of West Africa among one of the most degraded agroecosystems in the world. This condition affects the food crop production potential of the region. This paper examines farmers’ responses to climatic and ecological setbacks to enhance food crop production in the Tolon District of Northern Ghana. The study adopted a mixed method data collection appraoch. First, transect walks were undertaken in selected study communities to observe the agroecological landscapes, major agricultural land use types, dominant cropping patterns, and density of farming across the landscape. Secondly, an on-farm management survey was conducted to obtain information on the existing farm management practices and land preparation methods. Thirdly, Focus group discussions were held to determine the extents of adoption of primary farm management practices. The results revealed that current farming practices often involve the complete removal of organic residue in farmlands. This practice hinders plant nutrient retention and limits the buildup of soil organic carbon critical for food crop production. We also found increased incidence of droughts as a major challenge to farming. To boost food production potential, chemical fertilizer is the most valued soil amendment by farmers in Tolon even the though majority of farmers are unable to apply the recommended fertilizer amounts. The above findings suggest that any attempt to boost crop production and improve agroecological resilience to recent threats such as climate change without consideration of the restoration of agroecological integrity will be less sustainable. Policy makers and development agencies can take advantage of the high utilization of new technologies such as mobile phones and radio in such communities to deliver targeted programs to farmers meant to restore agroecological integrity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abdul-Rahman FA, Donkoh SA (2015) Analysis of the Maize Value Chain Development in the Northern Region, the case of the Association of Church Development Programme (ACDEP)
Antwi-Agyei P, Fraser ED, Dougill AJ et al (2012) Mapping the vulnerability of crop production to drought in Ghana using rainfall, yield and socioeconomic data. Appl Geogr 32(2):324–334
Antwi EK, Boakye-Danquah J, Asabere SB et al (2014a) Land cover transformation in two post-mining landscapes subjected to different ages of reclamation since dumping of spoils. SpringerPlus 3(1):702
Antwi E, Otsuki K, Saito O et al (2014b) Developing a community-based resilience assessment model with reference to Northern Ghana. J Integr Disas Risk Manag 4(1): 73-92. doi:10.5595/idrim.2014.0066
Armah FA, Odoi JO, Yengoh GT et al (2011) Food security and climate change in drought-sensitive savanna zones of Ghana. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Chang 16:291–306
Baatuuwie NB, van Leeuwen L (2011) Evaluation of three classifiers in mapping forest stands types using medium resolution imagery: a case study in the Offinso Forest District, Ghana. In: African Journal of Environmental Science & Technology, January 2011 (5(1)). Available at: http://www.academicjournals.org/ajest/PDF/pdf%202011/Jan/Baatuuwie%20and%20Van%20Leeuwen.pdf. Accessed 14 Mar 2013
Barry B, Obuobie E, Andreini M et al (2005) The Volta River Basin: Comprehensive assessment of water management in agriculture. International water management institute. Available at: http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/assessment/files_new/research_projects/River_Basin_Development_and_Management/VoltaRiverBasin_Boubacar.pdf. Accessed 14 Mar 2013
Bationo A, Buerkert A (2001) Soil organic carbon management for sustainable land use in Sudano-Sahelian West African. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 61:31–142
Bawakyillenuo S, Yaro JA, Teye J (2015) Exploring the autonomous adaptation strategies to climate change and climate variability in selected villages in the rural northern savannah zone of Ghana. Local Environ Int J Justice Sustain. doi:10.1080/13549839.2015.1020020
Boakye-Danquah J, Antwi EK, Saito O et al (2014) Impact of farm management practices and agricultural land use on soil organic carbon storage potential in the savannah ecological zone of Northern Ghana. J Disaster Res 9(4)
Buerkert A, Bationo A, Dossa K (2000) Mechanisms of residue mulch induced cereal growth increases in West Africa. Soil Sci Soc Am J 64(1):346–358
Bumb BL, Johnson M, Fuentes PA (2011) Policy options for improving regional fertilizer markets in West Africa. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Discussion Paper, 1084
Dietz, AJ, Ruben, R, Verhagen, A (Eds.) (2004). The impact of climate change on drylands; with a focus on West Africa. Environment and policy; Kluwer publishers; Dordercht
Donkoh SA, Awuni JA (2011) Adoption of farm management practices in lowland rice production in Northern Ghana. Glob Res J 2(6):189–191
Dowuona GNN, Adjetey ET, Nartey ET et al (2011) Carbon accumulation and aggregate stability in an acrisol under different fallow management in Ghana. J Soil Sci Environ Manag 2(12):393–403
FAO (2004) Carbon sequestration in dryland soils. World Soil Resources Reports 102. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome
FAO, WFP, IFAD (2012) The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012: Economic growth is necessary but not sufficient to accelerate reduction of hunger and malnutrition. FAO, Rome.
Fonseca W, Rey-Benayas JM, Alice FE (2011) Carbon accumulation in the biomass and soil of different aged secondary forests in the humid tropics of Costa Rica. For Ecol Manag 262(8):1400–1408. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2011.06.036
Giller KE, Witter E, Corbeels M et al (2009) Conservation agriculture and smallholder farming in Africa: the heretics’ view. Field Crops Res 114:23–34
Grace J, Jose JS, Meir P et al (2006) Productivity and carbon fluxes of tropical savannas. J Biogeogr 33:387–400. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.2005.01448.x
GSS (2013) www.statsghana.gov.gh/docfiles/GDP/provisional_gdp_2013.pdf . Accessed 14 Mar 2014
Gyasi EA (1995) Farming in Northern Ghana. ILEIA Newsletter 11(4). Available at http://www.agriculturesnetwork.org/magazines/global/farmers-facing-change/farming-in-northern-ghana. Accessed 14 Mar 2013
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) (2008) IFPRI Annual Report 2007–2008. Washington, DC. 10.2499/0896299201AR0708. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2499/0896299201AR0708. Accessed 15 June 2014
IPCC (2007) Climate Change 2007. Mitigation. Technical summary. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge/New York
Jens BA, Asrat R, Teklehaimanot DA et al (2012) Zero tillage or reduced tillage: the key to intensification of the crop–livestock system in Ethiopia. Chapter 12
Laary JK (2012) Dry-season farming and agrochemical misuse in Upper East Region of Ghana: implication and way forward. J Agric Food Environ Sci 5(1):1–10
Larmar R, Bationo BA, Lamso ND et al (2012) Tailoring conservation agriculture technologies to West Africa semi-arid zones: building on traditional local practices for soil restoration. Field Crop Res 132:158–167. doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2011.09.013
Lawson AN, Van Acker RC, Friesen LF (2006) Emergence timing of volunteer canola in spring wheat fields in Manitoba. Weed Sci 54:873–882
Leifeld J, Steffens M, Galego-Sala A (2012) Sensitivity of peatland carbon loss to organic matter quality. Geophys Res Lett 39(14)
Marks E, Aflakpui GKS, Nkem J et al (2008) Conservation of soil organic carbon, biodiversity and the provision of other ecosystem services along climatic gradients in West Africa. Biogeosciences 6:1825–1838. doi:10.5194/bg-6-1825
Marongwe LS, Kwazira K, Jenrich M et al (2011) An African success: the case of conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe. Int J Agric Sustain 9:153–161
Mélanie RD (2008) Social costs of desertification in Africa: the case of migration. In: The future of drylands. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 569–581
Oldeman LR, Hakkeling RTA, Sombroek WG (1991) World map of the status of human-induced soil degradation: an explanatory note. UNEP and ISRIC‚ Wageningen
Onyeneke RU, Madukwe DK (2010) Adaptation measures by crop farmers in the southeast rainforest zone of Nigeria to climate change. Sci World J 5(1)
Otsuki K, Jasaw GS, Lolig V (2014) Framing community resilience through mobility and gender. J Disaster Res 9:554–562
Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (1982) Methods of soil analysis, Part 2: Chemical and microbiological properties. American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America
Porter JR, Xie L, Challinor A et al (2014) Food security and food production systems. In: climate change 2014: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Contribution of working group II to the Fifth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Available at http://www.ipcc-wg2.gov. Accessed 20 Mar 2015
Powlson DS, Whitmore AP, Goulding KWT (2011) Soil carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change: a critical re-examination to identify the true and the false. Eur J Soil Sci 62:42–55
Quaye W (2008) Food security situation in Northern Ghana, coping strategies and related constraints. Afr J Agric Res 3(5): 334–342
Ravindranath NH, Ostwald M (2008) Carbon inventory methods. Handbook for greenhouse gas inventory, carbon mitigation and roundwood production projects. Springer, Dordrecht
Songsore J (2011) Regional development in Ghana: the theory and the reality. Woeli Publishing Services, Accra
Tiessen H, Stewart JWB (1983) Particle-size fractions and their uses in studies of soil organic matter: II. Cultivation effects on organic matter composition in size fractions. Soil Sci Soc Am Pro 47:509–514
Umar BB, Aune JB, Johnsen FH et al (2011) Options for improving smallholder conservation agriculture in Zambia. J Agric Sci 3(3):50–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v3n3p50. Accessed 20 Mar 2015
UNDP (2016) Empowering Rural Women and Alleviating Poverty by Strengthening the Local Shea Butter Industry. Available at http://www.gh.undp.org/content/ghana/en/home/operations/projects/poverty_reduction/all-projects2.html. Accessed 18 July 2017
Vågen TG, Winowiecki LA (2013) Mapping of soil organic carbon stocks for spatially explicit assessments of climate change mitigation potential. Environ Res Lett 8(1):015011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/8/1/015011
van Ginkel M, Sayer J, Sinclair F et al (2013) An integrated agroecosystem and livelihood systems approach for the poor and vulnerable in dry areas. Food Security, 5(6):751–767
Velasquez E, Lavelle P, Andrade M (2007) GISQ, a multifunctional indicator of soil quality. Soil Biol Biochem 39:3066–3080
Walkley C, Black W (1973) Method of organic carbon estimation. In: Ramamurthy V, Sharma RK, Kothari RM (eds) Soil conditioner. TCRDC, Publ., Patiala
Wood EC, Tappana GG, Hadj A (2004) Understanding the drivers of agricultural land use change in South-central Senegal. J Arid Environ 59(3): 565–582
World Food Program (2016) Ghana: overview. Retrieved from https://www.wfp.org/node/3467/3707/644350. Accessed 20 Feb 2015
Yansaneh I (2005) Chapter 2: Overview of sample design issues for household surveys in developing and transition countries. In: United Nations Statistical Division, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (eds) Household surveys in developing and transition countries, United Nations, New York
Zougmoré R (2003) Integrated water and nutrient management for sorghum production in semi-arid Burkina Faso. Tropical Resource Management Resource papers, Wageningen University, Neederlands, No. 45
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Antwi, E.K., Boakye-Danquah, J., Gyekye, K.A., Barimah, A.O., Botchwey, I., Ametepe, R. (2018). Examining Farm Management Practices and Implications for Food Crop Production in Semi-arid Ghana. In: Saito, O., Kranjac-Berisavljevic, G., Takeuchi, K., A. Gyasi, E. (eds) Strategies for Building Resilience against Climate and Ecosystem Changes in Sub-Saharan Africa. Science for Sustainable Societies. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4796-1_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4796-1_15
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-10-4794-7
Online ISBN: 978-981-10-4796-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)