Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain
Climate change affects all spheres of life, particularly those aspects that depend on the environment. Farming communities are a case in point.
Most often the effects of climate change on farmers are classified into two categories—economic and non-economic. The economic effects are losses that can be quantified or measured in monetary terms. Non-economic effects are losses that cannot be quantified or measured in monetary terms. Examples include loss of indigenous knowledge, cultural heritage and sense of place and belonging.
Research and policy strategies have focused on understanding and addressing the economic effects of climate change. Less so the non-economic aspects. I study food and agricultural systems in Ghana. In a recent paper my colleagues and I sought to understand the non-economic effects of climate change on farmers in Ghana.
Our findings have implications for climate change adaptation strategies and policies across the global south.
It is important to note that our research is not in any way suggesting that climate change is the only process driving changes in the farming systems and local culture in Ghana. But, based on the interviews we did, we argue that climate change is playing a role.
We conducted 30 in-depth interviews and a focus group with farmers in Offinso, a farming area in southern Ghana. Offinso is traditionally known for both food and cash crops production in Ghana. Farmers in the area produce crops that include maize, vegetables, pawpaw and cocoa. Agriculture in the area is largely rain-fed.
2023-03-23 03:00:03
Original from phys.org