Climate change and shift in cropping system: from cocoa to maize-based cropping system in Wenchi area of Ghana

Abstract

A study was conducted in Wenchi Municipality in the forest/savanna transitional agro-ecological zone of Ghana to analyse the past and present cropping systems and to identify the key drivers responsible for the shift. We used key informant and semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and field observations for data collection. Historical analyses of the present and past cropping systems indicated that over the past forty years, there has been a shift from cocoa based to maize based cropping system. The shift in the cropping system was prompted by decline in the yield of cocoa and the difficulty in establishing new cocoa farms as a result of changing rainfall pattern, frequent bushfires and increase in the dry season. Other factors attributed to the shift by farmers included land tenure, soil fertility decline and vegetation change. Strategies being used by farmers to adapt to the changing climate and variability include planting of drought tolerant crops such as cassava, yam and maize and adjusting planting dates of crops to coincide with the onset of the rains. The study indicates that future shift in cropping system from maize to cocoa-based system is unlikely due to deforestation activities and the prevailing climatic conditions.