Dry Season Farming in Ghana: A Climate Resilient Strategy for Food Security

Strategic Insights -

A recent study in the Upper East Region of Ghana has investigated the impact of small earth dams on farm households' welfare, revealing significant effects on food security. The research, conducted by a team of scientists at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, used a cross-sectional dataset of 275 farm households to analyze the relationship between market access and participation in dry-season cropping using small dams. The findings suggest that targeted extension services and training programs are crucial to enhance participation and benefits from dry-season farming.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study examined the impact of small earth dams on farm households' welfare in the Upper East Region of Ghana, finding that market access has a significant positive impact on dry-season cropping participation (0.19, p<0.05).
  • The Inverse Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment (IPWRA) model was used to analyze the dataset, indicating that small dams can enhance food security and livelihoods through dry-season farming as a climate resilience strategy.
  • Targeted extension services and training programs are essential to strengthen participation and benefits from dry-season farming, which can contribute to improved food security and resilience to climate change.
  • The study highlighted the importance of trained extension workers to provide timely and relevant advice to farmers, particularly during the critical dry-season period.
  • The research suggests that dry-season farming can provide a significant opportunity for income generation and poverty reduction among rural communities, particularly in Africa.
  • The study was conducted using a cross-sectional dataset of 275 farm households in the Upper East Region of Ghana, utilizing logistic regression and IPWRA models to analyze the data.
  • Dr. Faizal Adams, lead author of the study, emphasized the need for policy support to promote dry-season farming as a climate resilience strategy, ensuring that small-scale farmers can access the necessary resources and support.
  • The research provides valuable policy insights for the Ghanaian government, highlighting the critical role of small earthen dams in enhancing food security and livelihoods through dry-season farming.

Statistics:

  • 275 farm households were analyzed in the Upper East Region of Ghana.
  • 0.19: Marginal effect of market access on dry-season cropping participation (p<0.05).
  • 125377: Journal of Environmental Management volume, issue, and article number (2025).
  • 20-28 Oval Rd, London NW1 7DX, England: Contact address of Journal of Environmental Management.

Sources:

  • "Enhancing food security and livelihoods through dry season farming as a climate resilience strategy: A study in the Upper East Region of Ghana". Journal of Environmental Management, 2025;384:125377.
  • Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • Academic Press Ltd- Elsevier Science Ltd, 24-28 Oval Rd, London NW1 7DX, England.