http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/57 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:22:33 GMT 2026-04-04T10:22:33Z http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/226 Improving Smallholder Farmers’ Decision Making Responses to Climate Risk Adaptation in Kasena Nankana District of Northern Ghana Abora, Akangoa Raphael In the Sudan savannah zone of Ghana, climate change is real, accounting for the biggest production risk and uncertainty factors impacting on agricultural systems performance and management, smallholder farmers are adapting using strategies both traditional as well as strategies introduced by research. To contribute to improving poor farmers’ livelihoods and to overcome the gap in implementing adaptation strategies, understanding farmers’ perceptions and their decision-making behaviour related to climate change adaptation in the local framework conditions is very important. Therefore, the thesis (1) investigated climate related threats of smallholder farmers and their perception of climate change, (2) relevant adaptation strategies (3) identified and analysed relevant factors of farmers’ decision behaviour regarding adaptation and, (4) identified barriers to adaptation. To address these objectives, qualitative and quantitative methods were used; principal component analysis and binary logistic regression were used to determine the factors that influence farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies. The results indicate that choice of planting dates, choice of crop varieties, land preparation methods, marketing decision and related strategies were found to be the most important climate relatedstrategies.Thefactorsthatinfluencethechoiceofclimaterelatedstrategies are found to be age of head of household, experience in crop farming, access to formal extension services, observed changes in pattern of rainfall, amount of income earned from agricultural activities, observed changing pattern of temperature and presence of a market, among others. A Thesis submitted to the West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use and the Université de Lomé, Togo in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Degree in Climate Change and Human Security Sat, 01 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/226 2014-11-01T00:00:00Z http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/205 The Double Exposure of Climate Variability and Upstream Dams Development among Fishermen of Bargondaga and Dagawomina in the Inner Niger Delta of Mali Dicko, Mahamadou Moctar Like all agricultural sub-sectors fisheries are expected to be highly affected by the variability of climate in Mali and most of the Sahelian states. As a response to climate change and to increase its agricultural productivity, the Malian government intends to develop its hydraulic potential through the construction of large dams, water storage infrastructures and the development of irrigation schemes along the main rivers of the country. The objective of this study was to analyse the impact of climate variability and these dams on the livelihood of fishing communities, as well as to analyse their adaptation strategies. This was done by examining fishermen’s awareness of climate variability and the perceived effects of combined climate variability and water development projects. The study was conducted in two villages Bargondaga and Dagawomina located in the Inner Niger Delta of Mali. Data included socio-economic characteristics, fishing type, experience in climate variability and adaptation strategies to climatic risks and the increased water uptake through dams and irrigation schemes. The results reveal that fishing communities in the Inner Niger Delta face a double exposure to climate variability and the ongoing water development projects. The main impact of climate variability and increased water development projects concern the decrease in fish catch, the decrease of the inundated areas, fishing spaces and cultivable land. Among the responsive strategies to reduce these impacts figure income diversification, out-migration, irrigated rice cultivation, as well as the diversification of fishing equipment. Findings show that in order to decrease the vulnerability of inland fisheries to climate variability and large dam development, adaptation policies need to take the socio-economic and environmental situation of fishing communities located downstream of dams into account and to increase their involvement in the decision making process. A Thesis submitted to the West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use and the Université de Lomé, Togo in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Degree in Climate Change and Human Security Sat, 01 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/205 2014-11-01T00:00:00Z http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/72 Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Smallholder Farmers’ Crop Production-Based Revenue in Togo Gadedjisso-Tossou, Agossou This study employs a Ricardian approach to measure the impact of climate change on smallholder famers’ crop production-based revenue in Togo. A regression of farmer’s revenue on climate, soil and other socioeconomic variables was conducted to capture farmer adapted responses to climate variations. The analysis was based on cross-section data of the National Agricultural Census conducted during 2012-2013 agricultural season and average long-term temperature and rainfall data from 1961 to 2013 pooled over the 35 districts of Togo. Results indicate that climate has a nonlinear effect on net revenue from crop production. In rainy season, the marginal impact of the temperature on farmers’ net revenue is negative, while the one for the rainfall is positive. The scenarios of decrease of the rainfall and/or increase of the temperature are very detrimental to Togolese agriculture, because of the already harsh climatic conditions in the country. The analysis of farmers’ perception of climate change reveals a high increase in temperature and a high variability in rainfall pattern. Education attainment, farming experience, access to extension services and credit as well as climate information are factors that enhance farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate change and variability. Consequently, the government should design policies aimed at improving the aforementioned factors. A Thesis submitted to the West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use and the Université de Lomé, Togo in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Sat, 01 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/72 2014-11-01T00:00:00Z http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/71 Flood Vulnerability Assessment in Downstream Area of Mono Basin, South-Eastern Togo: Yoto District Kissi, Abravi Esssenam The Mono River in the Yoto district, presents a challenge in terms of repeated flood hazard. The eight selected communities lie in majority in the floodplains of the Mono River and experience year after year flood disaster. This study focuses on flood vulnerability assessment of the downstream part in the Mono River basin in the Yoto district. It analyses the trend in rainfall and river discharge series (1971-2010); it assesses the determinants of flood vulnerability; and it equally computes Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI). The result reveals a clear evidence of change in precipitation and river discharge patterns during the period of record. It shows an extreme variability in terms of flood magnitude and frequency in the Mono River. Besides, the closeness of households' farmlands to the river body, the type of construction and the position of settlements, the household size, the low level education of household head, the lack of diversification of livelihood strategies, the lack of adequate flood warning system and lack of willingness and ability to take responsive actions coupled with inadequate emergency services, are identified as main determinants increasing communities' vulnerability to flood disaster. Furthermore, FVI offers easy comparison of communities' vulnerability to flood disaster. A Thesis submitted to the West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use and the Université de Lomé, Togo in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Sat, 01 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/71 2014-11-01T00:00:00Z