Irene Susana Egyir¹, Kwadwo Ofori², Godfred Antwi³ & Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu⁴

¹ Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
² Department of Crop Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
³ Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
⁴ Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Sciences and Centre for African Wetlands, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

Correspondence: Irene Susana Egyir, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana. E-mail: ireneegyir@yahoo.com

Received: January 3, 2014 Accepted: February 27, 2014 Online Published: January 22, 2015
doi:10.5539/jsd.v8n1p1 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jsd.v8n1p1

 

Abstract
Modern productivity-enhancing strategies (MPES) are considered to be some of the best adaptation options available to communities in the face of changing climatic conditions. The adaptive capacity of communities living around two protected areas (Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve and Muni-Pomadze Ramsar Site) in Ghana
were assessed in relation to MPES by investigating household accessibility to human, social, natural, financial and physical capital. Information was collected from 249 and 250 respondents in Kogyae and Muni respectively. A logit model was used to find out whether adaptive capacity affected adoption of MPES. In both study areas,
indigenous coping strategies such as use of simple farm tools, processing of root/tubers and grains and social grouping were practiced. The MPES practiced included application of fertilizers and other agrochemicals, use of high technology machinery and bunding in rice fields. The mean level of adaptive capacity of farm households
was low in both areas; 0.30 and 0.27 in Kogyae and Muni respectively. The adoption of MPES was influenced positively by the level of human and physical capacities and farm size and location of protected area, and negatively by farmers’ participation in off-farm activities. Farmers located in Kogyae were more likely to adopt productivity-enhancing strategies than their counterparts in Muni. Considering that access to the resources within the protected areas is restricted and not legally available to support livelihoods of the fringe communities, we conclude that enhancing access to both human and physical capitals is the way forward for climate change adaptation for these two communities.

Keywords: farmer adaptive capacities, climate change, modern productivity-enhancing strategies, protectedareas

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