Effects of Climate Change Adaptation Practices on Rice Productivity: A Factor Analysis of Farming System Challenges in Northern Ghana

Abstract

Background: Climate-related stresses, declining water availability, and escalating pest outbreaks are increasingly disrupting rice farming systems globally, threatening the food security and livelihoods of smallholder farmers. While farmers adopt various adaptation strategies to cope with these environmental shifts, the empirical effectiveness of these practices and the specific structural challenges hindering them remain inadequately explored. Understanding the nexus between adaptation and output is critical for building sustainable agricultural systems.

Objective: This study assessed the effects of climate change adaptation practices on rice production and identified the underlying challenges within rice farming systems in the Tolon and Kumbungu Districts of Ghana.

Methodology: Utilising a multistage sampling technique, data were collected from 420 rice farmers via a semi-structured questionnaire deployed through the KoboCollect app. The research employed descriptive and inferential statistics, including multiple regression to measure the impact of adaptation variables on output, and factor analysis to categorise the multidimensional challenges faced by respondents.

Results: The findings indicate that the farming population is predominantly male (87.92%), with an average age of 40.1 years and low levels of formal education (73.34%). Multiple regression analysis (R² = 0.8353) revealed that several adaptive variables, such as the use of improved seed varieties, irrigation practices, and soil moisture conservation, have a positive and significant effect on rice output. Furthermore, factor analysis identified four primary challenges: institutional weakness, water scarcity stress, financial constraints, and climate vulnerability, which collectively accounted for 60% of the observed cumulative variance.

Conclusion: The study concludes that while adaptation practices significantly enhance rice productivity in Northern Ghana, the persistence of institutional and physical constraints undermines their overall effectiveness. The identified challenges necessitate a more robust framework for agricultural support.

Unique Contribution: This research integrates output-based regression with a multidimensional factor analysis to provide a comprehensive classification of farming challenges. It offers a clear indicator of the strength and direction of variables that impede sustainable rice production in sub-Saharan Africa.

Key Recommendation: The government and development partners should strengthen institutional policies to scale up climate-smart agricultural practices. Key interventions should include improving access to climate information, enhancing affordable credit facilities, and promoting community-based decision-making in the adoption of new agricultural technologies.