Experiences of Heat Stress Vulnerability and Climate Change among Farmers in Ghana

Abstract

The trend over the last decade of increasing temperature associated with climate change with the impacts being felt in the poorest communities of the developing world is unequivocal. Bawku East of northern Ghana is assessed as one of the poorest communities. Being a farming community the study investigates the extent of farmers’ experiences on heat and climate change. A selected number of 308 farmers from a farming population of over 15,000 were interviewed about heat stress and climate change to gauge their level of vulnerability to heat stress at the household and farm levels, as well as their general experiences of climate change. The age, gender, duration of residence, community where a farmer lives and educational level were used as predictors to elicit experiences of heat stress vulnerability and climate change using logistic regression models and empirical results. The significance of the study is to establish baseline parameters for effective adaptation of heat stress as temperature is projected to increase with and beyond this century in the study area. On the balance, farmers have significant experience on heat stress vulnerability and climate change. The farmers who have lived longer in the study area showed significant experience of heat stress and climate change. Future study on level of adaptation to heat stress and climate change at household and farm level is timely and appropriate.

Keywords: Climate change, Heat Stress, Farmers, Experiences