Agricultural Innovations for Climate Change
Adaption and Food Security in Ghana andThe Gambia: Policy Options
African Technology Policy Studies Network

TECHNOPOLICY BRIEF | No. 32
Gordon Akon-Yamga
Paul Boadu
Beatrice Darko Obiri
Joyce Amoako
Fatou Janha Mboob

Agricultural Innovations for Climate Change
Adaption and Food Security in Ghana and theGambia: Policy Options

Gordon Akon-Yamga
Paul Boadu
Beatrice Darko Obiri
Joyce Amoako
Fatou Janha Mboob

The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) is a multidisciplinary network of researchers, private sector actors andpolicy makers promoting the generation, dissemination, use andmastery of science, technology and innovation (ST&I) for African
development, environmental sustainability and global inclusion.
ATPS intends to achieve its mandate through research, capacity
building and training, science communication/dissemination andsensitization, participatory multi-stakeholder dialogue,knowledge brokerage, and policy advocacy.
Published by the African Technology Policy Studies Network
P O Box 10081, 00100 GPO Nairobi Kenya
2011

Published by the African Technology Policy Studies Network

ISBN: 978-9966-030-22-1

Table of Contents
Acknowledgement41.

Introduction

5

2.

Critique of Policy Options

7

3.

Conclusion & Policy Options

8Bibliography

9

Agricultural Innovations for Climate Change Adaption and Food Security in Ghana and The Gambia: Policy Options | 3

Acknowledgement
This paper was produced as part of the implementation of the African Technology
Policy Studies Network (ATPS) Phase VI Strategic Plan, 2008 – 2012 funded byATPS Donors including the Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken (DGIS) theNetherlands, Rockefeller Foundation, amongst others. The authors hereby thankthe ATPS for the financial and technical support during the implementation of theprogram. The Authors specially thank the ATPS Climate Sense Program Director,Dr. Kevin Urama (ATPS); and the Program Coordinators including Prof. Michael
Madukwe (ATPS Nigeria); Dr. Musa Dube (ATPS Swaziland), Prof. Bob Orskov(ATPS, UK), Dr. Nicholas Ozor (ATPS), and Ms. Wairimu Mwangi (ATPS) for theirtechnical support during the research process.

4 | Agricultural Innovations for Climate Change Adaption and Food Security in Ghana and The Gambia: Policy Options

1.

Introduction

It is recognised that climate change will impact Africa negatively and therefore will
have dire consequences for food security. However agricultural innovations canbe used to forestall this or minimise the impacts. Innovation is an interactive
process involving various critical actors working in a given socio-economic andcultural system to bring about improvements or advances in the production ofgoods and services. Agricultural innovations therefore are the interactive
processes as well as the products and services that are produced by thisprocess.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) defines climatechange as “a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (for example,by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or variability of its
properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer”.
Analysis by Agyeman-Bonsu et. al (2008) showed that both maximum andminimum air temperatures increased by 2.5 and 2.2°C respectively between 1961
and 2001in Ghana. Furthermore, the future climate change scenarios generated
indicates that both the maximum and minimum temperatures increased overyears in all agroclimatic zones of Ghana. The projections indicate that theaverage maximum temperature of the Sudan Savanna Zone is expected toincrease by 3°C by the year 2100 and 2.5°C in all other agroclimatic zones. The
average minimum temperature is expected to increase by 2.5°C in the Sudan
Savanna, Guinea Savanna and the Semi-Deciduous Rainforest Zones by the year
2100. For the Transition and the High Rainforest zones, the minimum temperature
is projected to increase by 3°C and 2°C, respectively, by the year 2100
The Government of Gambia (2003) used forty years (1951-1990) of current
climate data to develop the baseline climate scenarios for The Gambia. Theanalysis showed that in the 1951-1990 period, the behaviour of the climate of The
Gambia shows almost equal distribution of wet/cool and dry/warm years. Thus,
the 1951-1980 period was wetter and relatively warmer while the 1961-1990
period was drier and cooler. However, between the two periods, the rainfall for themonths of July and September significantly decreased.
To develop the climate change scenario for The Gambia, the equilibrium General
Circulation Model (GCM) outputs were used to create the climate change
scenario (The Government of Gambia, 2003). Therefore, on the average, by 2075,
Agricultural Innovations for Climate Change Adaption and Food Security in Ghana and The Gambia: Policy Options | 5mean temperature of The Gambia is projected to increase by 3°C to 4.5°C
depending on the GCM used. By 2100, a decrease of 59% (HCGG), 17% (HCGS)
and 15% (GFDL equilibrium model) is projected. On the other hand an increaseof about 15% (GFDL01) and 29% (CCCM) about the 1951-1990 average rainfall
amounts are projected in The Gambia (The Government of Gambia, 2003).
Climate change's impact on agriculture and human well-being will include thebiological effects on crop yields, which would lead to impacts on outcomes
including prices, production and consumption; impact on per capita calorie
consumption and child malnutrition. The biophysical effects of climate change
on agriculture induce changes in production and prices, which play out throughthe economic system as farmers and other market participants adjustautonomously, altering crop mix, input use, production, food demand, foodconsumption, and trade. Agricultural production in Ghana and the Gambia is
predominantly rain-fed and any changes in rainfall pattern would have seriousimpact on productivity. Recent projections on climate indicate that risingtemperatures and frequent droughts will increase the incidences of bushfires andenvironmental degradation. The changes in the climatic conditions in the past
have deepened rural vulnerability to poverty and enhanced the process of landdegradation and desertification. Investments in agriculture are becoming
expensive, risky and less profitable.
The impact of climate change on cereal production in Ghana was assessed using
the CERES model. CERES MAIZE and CERES MILLET models were used togenerate growth and yield of maize and millet, respectively. The model output
showed that there was a consistent decrease in the yield of maize in the Transition
Zone due to an increase in temperature and solar radiation and a decrease in
rainfall. However, the decreases in the projected yields were not significantly
different from the baseline yields. The percentage decrease in the projectedmaize yield ranged from 0.5 percent in the year 2000 to 6.9 percent in the year
2020. With respect to millet, however, the changes in the climatic variables did noteffect any change in the projected yield of millet. This could be ascribed to thedrought tolerant nature of millet (Government of Ghana, 2003).
In the Gambia, the agriculture sector alone provides employment for about 75%of the labour-force, and an estimated two-thirds of total household income (TheGovernment of Gambia, 2003). These attributes make the sector a prime area for
6 | Agricultural Innovations for Climate Change Adaption and Food Security in Ghana and The Gambia: Policy Options

investments, if the nation's socio-economic development policy objectives ofpoverty alleviation and household food security are to be realized. The sector ischaracterized by subsistence rain-fed, cash and food crops production andhorticulture. Agro-industrial activity is mainly limited to groundnut milling, cereal
processing, cotton ginning and sesame oil extraction.
The Government of Gambia (2003) predicts that all crop growth parameters (kgdm/ha) for the maize crop would undergo significant reductions under climatechange. Furthermore, grain weight is estimated to be 28% (CCCM), 31%(HCGG), 33% (HCGS) and 40% (GFDL) lower than current climate values. Leafand stem weights are also expected to be lower than current climate values byamounts ranging from 18 – 35% and 17 – 34%, respectively; and the nutritional
value of the biomass products from maize will also be decreased due to decreasein nitrogen content, a situation that is similar for millet. However, simulation of thegrowth of groundnut suggests that groundnut production would be morefavourable with climate change than under current climate scenarios. All growthparameters are estimated to be significantly higher under climate change
scenarios, with grain weight estimated to increase by 9% to 25% above thecurrent climate's production. Total dry matter production increases by 15 to 47%
under climate change over current climate scenarios (The Government ofGambia, 2003).

2.

Critique of Policy Options

Notwithstanding the foregoing, there have not been adequate policyinterventions to help farmers and vulnerable communities adapt to the impact ofclimate change and to improve food security in Ghana and the Gambia. Policies,
plans and programmes in Ghana and The Gambia rarely recognize the adoptionof local agricultural technologies and innovations for climate change adaptation
although such technologies and innovations exist. Indeed a review of the draft
adaptation strategy for Ghana and the National Action Plan for Adaption (NAPA)of the Gambia reveals that not much importance has been given to the need toharness agricultural innovations and technologies for adaptation to climatechange and improving food security.
Although in Ghana and the Gambia, there are agricultural policies, theinvestments needed to implement these policies have been woefully inadequate.
Agricultural Innovations for Climate Change Adaption and Food Security in Ghana and The Gambia: Policy Options | 7

In the Gambia for instance, annual investment levels in agricultural research anddevelopment for instance have fluctuated somewhat, largely due to yearly shifts
in government and donor budgets (Stads and Manneh, 2010). However, inGhana there has been an increase in agricultural research and development
expenditures in recent times, which has been attributed to the presence of apolicy environment in which the government of Ghana has recognized theimportance of the agricultural sector (Flaherty, et al., 2010).
There is the problem of inadequate extension officers to spread the knowledge
and help diffuse and transfer technologies and innovations. Even where there areagricultural extension officers, many of them have very limited knowledge ofclimate change adaptation. Furthermore, many farmers and vulnerable
communities do not have access to weather forecasts as the most reliable meansof obtaining weather forecasts is through the radio. Considering that coverage ofelectricity in many rural areas, where the farmers are, is limited and that many
radio stations are located in urban areas, the spread of weather forecast throughradio is limited.
Additionally, climate change adaptation and food security measures have thefollowing shortfalls:
1. The use of tractors, irrigation systems and other means of mechanization areminimal.
2. The application of agro-chemicals including pesticides and herbicides on
the farms is limited.
3. The adoption of improved seeds is very limited.
4. The processing of farm produce is very limited if non-existent in many
farming communities.
5. Lack of coordination of efforts/initiatives for climate change impact
adaptation and food security enhancement

3.

Conclusion & Policy Options

From the foregoing, it is therefore imperative to pursue very important policy
options to further promote the adoption of existing agricultural technologies forclimate change adaptation and for improving food security in Ghana and theGambia. The following have been proposed:

8 | Agricultural Innovations for Climate Change Adaption and Food Security in Ghana and The Gambia: Policy Options

1. Review existing final and draft policies on climate change and agriculture to
give prominence to the harnessing, adoption and transfer of agricultural
technologies to farmers.
2. Provide the needed budgetary support to implement the policies andprogrammes developed.
3. Identify human and institutional capacity gaps for climate adaptation.
4. Improve public, especially rural farmers', access to information on climatechange impacts and its adaptation measures.
6. Develop and implement education and training programmes for agriculturalextension officers to better transfer knowledge and technologies to farmers.
7. Provide incentives for seed growers to produce seeds using technologies
developed by national research institutes in Ghana and the Gambia.

Bibliography
IPCC 2007. Climate Change 2007: The Synthesis Report. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press
Agyeman Bonsu, W. , Minia, Z., Dontwi, J., Dontwi, I.K., Buabeng, S.N., BaffoeBonnie, B., Yeboah, F.A., Ofori, E., Gyasi, E.A., Karikari, O., Dugan, E., Nelson, W.,Agbey, S.N.D., Sagoe, R., Damptey, P., Mensah, A.T., Anim-Kwapong, D.J. andFrimpong, E.B. 2008. Ghana Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability andAdaptation Assessments. Allotey, J. and Mensah, L. (Eds). Environmental
Protection Agency, Accra, Ghana.
SEND Foundation and Christian Aid 2009. Implications of climate change forGhana's food security: The need for climate change adaptation. Issue Paper (3).
Flaherty K., Essegbey G. O. and Asare R. 2010. Recent developments inagricultural research. Ghana Country Note. IFPRI, RomeStads G.J. and Manneh F. 2010. Recent developments in agricultural research.
The Gambia Country Note. IFPRI, Rome

Agricultural Innovations for Climate Change Adaption and Food Security in Ghana and The Gambia: Policy Options | 9

The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) is a multidisciplinary network of researchers, private sector actors andpolicy makers promoting the generation, dissemination, use andmastery of science, technology and innovation (ST&I) for African
development, environmental sustainability and global inclusion.
ATPS intends to achieve its mandate through research, capacity
building and training, science communication/dissemination andsensitization, participatory multi-stakeholder dialogue,knowledge brokerage, and policy advocacy.

African Technology
Policy Studies Network
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ISBN: 978-9966-030-22-1