Adoption of climate-smart agriculture among smallholder cashew farmers in Jaman North, Ghana: Interventions, determinants, and barriers

Abstract

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an innovative intervention for building resilient livelihoods and food systems in smallholder farming communities. Yet, there is limited evidence on adopting CSAs and their socio-economic determinants to facilitate sustainable cashew production under climate change in Ghana. This study examines the adoption of CSA practices among smallholder cashew farmers in the Jaman North District of Ghana. It explores the extent to which various CSA interventions are utilized, the influence of socioeconomic factors on adoption rates, and the barriers farmers face in implementing these practices. Through a mixed-method approach, involving questionnaire surveys with 250 smallholder farmers, 10 focus group discussions, and 5 key informant interviews, the research identifies mulching (RII = 0.987), mixed farming (RII = 0.959), and the use of drought-resistant cashew varieties (RII = 0.951) as the most prevalent CSA practices adopted by the smallholder cashew farmers. The study also reveals that socioeconomic factors such as gender, age, educational level, and access to extension services significantly affect CSA adoption. The primary barriers to adoption are inadequate government support (PCI = 1118), limited access to agricultural credit (PCI = 1105), and a lack of modern tools and technology (PCI = 1051). This research provides valuable insights for policymakers, suggesting that enhancing institutional support, improving access to credit and technology, and addressing information gaps can significantly increase CSA adoption and contribute to the region’s resilience and sustainability of cashew farming.