MECHANISMS AND PATHWAYS FOR CLIMATE-SENSITIVE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE OF SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE IN GHANA

ABSTRACT Efforts to transform smallholder agriculture and improve productivity have yielded some positive results. Yet, smallholder productivity in Africa remains low relative to America, Asia, and elsewhere, threatening food security and livelihoods. A major reason is the slow pace of transformation in the agricultural production, research and development processes, and the effects of climate change impacts. This thesis examined smallholder transformational change processes using the Transtheoretical (Stages of Behaviour Change) theory in a mixed-methods survey conducted in the Keta Anglo area, in the Coastal Savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana with over 400 smallholder vegetable farmers. The study found that over 91% of smallholders were aware of the climate change phenomenon. However, awareness did not automatically translate into a high level of climate-sensitive practices. Status as head of household, membership in a Farmer Based Organisation and access to Extension services had significant relationships with smallholder perceptions of climate change impacts. Access to Extension services and land ownership were significant factors that affected smallholder stage of transformation. Smallholder perception variables measured as awareness, recall and beliefs were all significant predictors of smallholder stage of transformational change. The thesis concluded that the “one-size-fits-all” approach that is characteristic of most current Extension methods undermines efforts to transform smallholder agriculture in order to increase productivity. It is therefore recommended that Extension methods should aim at addressing farmer needs by disaggregating their perceptions and stage of transformational change specifically. Land tenure and ownership issues should also be addressed to enhance available mechanisms for transformation.