Factors influencing the access and utilization of climate information by farmers from different climate vulnerable districts of Northern Region, Ghana

Abstract

To execute effective climate initiatives at all social levels, it is critical to understand the perspectives of various climate-vulnerability groups’ utilization of climate information. However, limited empirical research has been conducted on the perspectives and adaptation methods of climate-vulnerable farmers in Ghana’s Northern Region. This study offered an understanding of the enabling factors that promote the utilization intensity of climate information among farmers from three climate-vulnerability groups. The study employs quantitative and qualitative methods and data collected through face-to-face interview questionnaires from 384 farmer households, five key informants and five focus group discussions among forty-two participants within 6 climatic vulnerable districts. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the types of information accessed and utilized and the enabling factors for its utilization. A double-hurdle regression model was employed to model climate-vulnerable districts’ probability utilization of climate information and intensity. The results show that television programs were the major source of climate information among most farmers in the highly climate-vulnerable groups, whereas it was radio among farmers in the moderately and less climate-vulnerable groups. The moderately climate-vulnerable groups not only have a low probability of utilizing climate information, but they will utilize less of it if they intend to do so, whereas highly climate-vulnerable districts have a lower probability of utilizing but will use more of it if they intend to. Access to climate information through extension services was low among all vulnerable groups. However, farmers who accessed extension services have a high probability of utilizing the information and utilize it more.