Comparing Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability with Meteorological and Remote Sensing Data, Implications for Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies in Ghana

Mensah-Brako Bismark; Agyei Agyare Wilson; Nyatuame Mexoese; Ahorsu Kojo Samuel

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14

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Comparing Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability with Meteorological and Remote Sensing Data, Implications for Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies in Ghana

Mensah-Brako Bismark, Agyei Agyare Wilson, Nyatuame Mexoese, Ahorsu Kojo Samuel

Published in American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering (Volume 5, Issue 4)

Received: 3 November 2021 Accepted: 27 November 2021 Published: 3 December 2021

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Abstract

In-depth knowledge of smallholder farmers’ perception of changing climate variables such as recurrent and protracted droughts, late onset of rainfall, early cessation of rainfall and their coping adaptation strategies are very significant in designing climate resilient agriculture among smallholder food crop farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This paper examines smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate variability vis-á-vis meteorological and satellite remote sensing data and their implications for climate smart agriculture technologies. Integration of meteorological, satellite remote sensing and farm-level data were used. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select four towns, eight communities and 398 smallholder food crop farmers. Spearmans’ rank correlation coefficient and Standardized Precipitation Index were used to assess the distribution of climate variables. In addition, three vegetation drought characteristic indices, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) and Water Supply Vegetation Index (WSVI) were used to examine drought conditions within the basin. The results indicated that smallholder farmers in the Offin river basin perceived recurrent and prolonged droughts, rising temperatures, late onset of rainfall, early cessation of rainfall, increasing dry spells, reduction in the length of rainfall season and shorten cropping season as a main indicators of climate variability. The findings further revealed that farmers’ perceptions on climate variability strongly agrees with meteorological and satellite remote sensing data which not only demonstrated rising temperature and frequent and prolonged droughts but also late onset and early cessation of rainfall and reduction in growing season rainfall. Smallholder food crop farmers in the Offin river basin have a high awareness of variation in climate condition and have taken coping strategies to reduce the effects of climate change and climate variability. Smallholder food crop farmers in the basin have also adopted climate smart agriculture technologies such as crop management techniques, integrated soil and nutrient management practices, tillage and residue management, small scale irrigation systems, inland valleys cropping and renewable energy systems to increase agricultural productivity and build resilience to climate variability. The policy implication is that, smallholder food crop farmers’ knowledge on climate variability should be considered as a practical input in designing and planning climate variability coping adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Published in	American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering (Volume 5, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14
Page(s)	104-112
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Climate Variability, Smallholder Farmers, Perceptions, NDVI, Lower Offin River Basin

References

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APA Style

Mensah-Brako Bismark, Agyei Agyare Wilson, Nyatuame Mexoese, Ahorsu Kojo Samuel. (2021). Comparing Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability with Meteorological and Remote Sensing Data, Implications for Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies in Ghana. American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering, 5(4), 104-112. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14

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ACS Style

Mensah-Brako Bismark; Agyei Agyare Wilson; Nyatuame Mexoese; Ahorsu Kojo Samuel. Comparing Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability with Meteorological and Remote Sensing Data, Implications for Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies in Ghana. Am. J. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2021, 5(4), 104-112. doi: 10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14

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AMA Style

Mensah-Brako Bismark, Agyei Agyare Wilson, Nyatuame Mexoese, Ahorsu Kojo Samuel. Comparing Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability with Meteorological and Remote Sensing Data, Implications for Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies in Ghana. Am J Environ Sci Eng. 2021;5(4):104-112. doi: 10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14

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@article{10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14,
  author = {Mensah-Brako Bismark and Agyei Agyare Wilson and Nyatuame Mexoese and Ahorsu Kojo Samuel},
  title = {Comparing Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability with Meteorological and Remote Sensing Data, Implications for Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies in Ghana},
  journal = {American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering},
  volume = {5},
  number = {4},
  pages = {104-112},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajese.20210504.14},
  abstract = {In-depth knowledge of smallholder farmers’ perception of changing climate variables such as recurrent and protracted droughts, late onset of rainfall, early cessation of rainfall and their coping adaptation strategies are very significant in designing climate resilient agriculture among smallholder food crop farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This paper examines smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate variability vis-á-vis meteorological and satellite remote sensing data and their implications for climate smart agriculture technologies. Integration of meteorological, satellite remote sensing and farm-level data were used. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select four towns, eight communities and 398 smallholder food crop farmers. Spearmans’ rank correlation coefficient and Standardized Precipitation Index were used to assess the distribution of climate variables. In addition, three vegetation drought characteristic indices, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) and Water Supply Vegetation Index (WSVI) were used to examine drought conditions within the basin. The results indicated that smallholder farmers in the Offin river basin perceived recurrent and prolonged droughts, rising temperatures, late onset of rainfall, early cessation of rainfall, increasing dry spells, reduction in the length of rainfall season and shorten cropping season as a main indicators of climate variability. The findings further revealed that farmers’ perceptions on climate variability strongly agrees with meteorological and satellite remote sensing data which not only demonstrated rising temperature and frequent and prolonged droughts but also late onset and early cessation of rainfall and reduction in growing season rainfall. Smallholder food crop farmers in the Offin river basin have a high awareness of variation in climate condition and have taken coping strategies to reduce the effects of climate change and climate variability. Smallholder food crop farmers in the basin have also adopted climate smart agriculture technologies such as crop management techniques, integrated soil and nutrient management practices, tillage and residue management, small scale irrigation systems, inland valleys cropping and renewable energy systems to increase agricultural productivity and build resilience to climate variability. The policy implication is that, smallholder food crop farmers’ knowledge on climate variability should be considered as a practical input in designing and planning climate variability coping adaptation and mitigation strategies.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Comparing Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability with Meteorological and Remote Sensing Data, Implications for Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies in Ghana
AU  - Mensah-Brako Bismark
AU  - Agyei Agyare Wilson
AU  - Nyatuame Mexoese
AU  - Ahorsu Kojo Samuel
Y1  - 2021/12/03
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14
T2  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
SP  - 104
EP  - 112
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-7993
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14
AB  - In-depth knowledge of smallholder farmers’ perception of changing climate variables such as recurrent and protracted droughts, late onset of rainfall, early cessation of rainfall and their coping adaptation strategies are very significant in designing climate resilient agriculture among smallholder food crop farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This paper examines smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate variability vis-á-vis meteorological and satellite remote sensing data and their implications for climate smart agriculture technologies. Integration of meteorological, satellite remote sensing and farm-level data were used. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select four towns, eight communities and 398 smallholder food crop farmers. Spearmans’ rank correlation coefficient and Standardized Precipitation Index were used to assess the distribution of climate variables. In addition, three vegetation drought characteristic indices, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) and Water Supply Vegetation Index (WSVI) were used to examine drought conditions within the basin. The results indicated that smallholder farmers in the Offin river basin perceived recurrent and prolonged droughts, rising temperatures, late onset of rainfall, early cessation of rainfall, increasing dry spells, reduction in the length of rainfall season and shorten cropping season as a main indicators of climate variability. The findings further revealed that farmers’ perceptions on climate variability strongly agrees with meteorological and satellite remote sensing data which not only demonstrated rising temperature and frequent and prolonged droughts but also late onset and early cessation of rainfall and reduction in growing season rainfall. Smallholder food crop farmers in the Offin river basin have a high awareness of variation in climate condition and have taken coping strategies to reduce the effects of climate change and climate variability. Smallholder food crop farmers in the basin have also adopted climate smart agriculture technologies such as crop management techniques, integrated soil and nutrient management practices, tillage and residue management, small scale irrigation systems, inland valleys cropping and renewable energy systems to increase agricultural productivity and build resilience to climate variability. The policy implication is that, smallholder food crop farmers’ knowledge on climate variability should be considered as a practical input in designing and planning climate variability coping adaptation and mitigation strategies.
VL  - 5
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Mensah-Brako Bismark

Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ho Technical University, Ho, Ghana
Agyei Agyare Wilson

Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, College of Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Nyatuame Mexoese

Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ho Technical University, Ho, Ghana
Ahorsu Kojo Samuel

Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ho Technical University, Ho, Ghana

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APA Style

Mensah-Brako Bismark, Agyei Agyare Wilson, Nyatuame Mexoese, Ahorsu Kojo Samuel. (2021). Comparing Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability with Meteorological and Remote Sensing Data, Implications for Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies in Ghana. American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering, 5(4), 104-112. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14

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ACS Style

Mensah-Brako Bismark; Agyei Agyare Wilson; Nyatuame Mexoese; Ahorsu Kojo Samuel. Comparing Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability with Meteorological and Remote Sensing Data, Implications for Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies in Ghana. Am. J. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2021, 5(4), 104-112. doi: 10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14

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AMA Style

Mensah-Brako Bismark, Agyei Agyare Wilson, Nyatuame Mexoese, Ahorsu Kojo Samuel. Comparing Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability with Meteorological and Remote Sensing Data, Implications for Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies in Ghana. Am J Environ Sci Eng. 2021;5(4):104-112. doi: 10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14,
  author = {Mensah-Brako Bismark and Agyei Agyare Wilson and Nyatuame Mexoese and Ahorsu Kojo Samuel},
  title = {Comparing Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability with Meteorological and Remote Sensing Data, Implications for Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies in Ghana},
  journal = {American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering},
  volume = {5},
  number = {4},
  pages = {104-112},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajese.20210504.14},
  abstract = {In-depth knowledge of smallholder farmers’ perception of changing climate variables such as recurrent and protracted droughts, late onset of rainfall, early cessation of rainfall and their coping adaptation strategies are very significant in designing climate resilient agriculture among smallholder food crop farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This paper examines smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate variability vis-á-vis meteorological and satellite remote sensing data and their implications for climate smart agriculture technologies. Integration of meteorological, satellite remote sensing and farm-level data were used. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select four towns, eight communities and 398 smallholder food crop farmers. Spearmans’ rank correlation coefficient and Standardized Precipitation Index were used to assess the distribution of climate variables. In addition, three vegetation drought characteristic indices, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) and Water Supply Vegetation Index (WSVI) were used to examine drought conditions within the basin. The results indicated that smallholder farmers in the Offin river basin perceived recurrent and prolonged droughts, rising temperatures, late onset of rainfall, early cessation of rainfall, increasing dry spells, reduction in the length of rainfall season and shorten cropping season as a main indicators of climate variability. The findings further revealed that farmers’ perceptions on climate variability strongly agrees with meteorological and satellite remote sensing data which not only demonstrated rising temperature and frequent and prolonged droughts but also late onset and early cessation of rainfall and reduction in growing season rainfall. Smallholder food crop farmers in the Offin river basin have a high awareness of variation in climate condition and have taken coping strategies to reduce the effects of climate change and climate variability. Smallholder food crop farmers in the basin have also adopted climate smart agriculture technologies such as crop management techniques, integrated soil and nutrient management practices, tillage and residue management, small scale irrigation systems, inland valleys cropping and renewable energy systems to increase agricultural productivity and build resilience to climate variability. The policy implication is that, smallholder food crop farmers’ knowledge on climate variability should be considered as a practical input in designing and planning climate variability coping adaptation and mitigation strategies.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Comparing Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability with Meteorological and Remote Sensing Data, Implications for Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies in Ghana
AU  - Mensah-Brako Bismark
AU  - Agyei Agyare Wilson
AU  - Nyatuame Mexoese
AU  - Ahorsu Kojo Samuel
Y1  - 2021/12/03
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14
T2  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
SP  - 104
EP  - 112
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-7993
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20210504.14
AB  - In-depth knowledge of smallholder farmers’ perception of changing climate variables such as recurrent and protracted droughts, late onset of rainfall, early cessation of rainfall and their coping adaptation strategies are very significant in designing climate resilient agriculture among smallholder food crop farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This paper examines smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate variability vis-á-vis meteorological and satellite remote sensing data and their implications for climate smart agriculture technologies. Integration of meteorological, satellite remote sensing and farm-level data were used. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select four towns, eight communities and 398 smallholder food crop farmers. Spearmans’ rank correlation coefficient and Standardized Precipitation Index were used to assess the distribution of climate variables. In addition, three vegetation drought characteristic indices, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) and Water Supply Vegetation Index (WSVI) were used to examine drought conditions within the basin. The results indicated that smallholder farmers in the Offin river basin perceived recurrent and prolonged droughts, rising temperatures, late onset of rainfall, early cessation of rainfall, increasing dry spells, reduction in the length of rainfall season and shorten cropping season as a main indicators of climate variability. The findings further revealed that farmers’ perceptions on climate variability strongly agrees with meteorological and satellite remote sensing data which not only demonstrated rising temperature and frequent and prolonged droughts but also late onset and early cessation of rainfall and reduction in growing season rainfall. Smallholder food crop farmers in the Offin river basin have a high awareness of variation in climate condition and have taken coping strategies to reduce the effects of climate change and climate variability. Smallholder food crop farmers in the basin have also adopted climate smart agriculture technologies such as crop management techniques, integrated soil and nutrient management practices, tillage and residue management, small scale irrigation systems, inland valleys cropping and renewable energy systems to increase agricultural productivity and build resilience to climate variability. The policy implication is that, smallholder food crop farmers’ knowledge on climate variability should be considered as a practical input in designing and planning climate variability coping adaptation and mitigation strategies.
VL  - 5
IS  - 4
ER  -

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