Introduction With growing climate variability, smallholder farmers in Ghana are exposed to climate risks that threaten agricultural productivity and the entire food system. Effective and timely agricultural and climate information is essential for smallholder farmers to adopt climate-smart agriculture practices (CSAPs) and navigate around climate-induced risks. This study investigates the role of information access in climate adaptation and climate-induced risk management by examining the impact of climate information access on the CSA adoption and risk management processes among smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana. Methods A qualitative research design involving 40 focus group discussions (FGDs) with smallholder farmers across 10 districts in the Northern, Upper East, and Upper West regions of Ghana was conducted. Gender-matched moderators facilitated gender-segregated FGDs to ensure comfort and openness. Discussions were recorded, coded and analysed (thematically and narratively) to explore patterns in climate information access, climate risk gaps, access and use of climate smart agricultural practices for climate adaptation and risk management. Results Findings reveal that primary climate information sources include the radio, agro-input traders, farmer-to-farmer (peer) and conventional extension agents. Women access information largely via farmer-to-farmer (peer) channels. The mobile phones use is as well emerging as an essential channel although mobile network penetration is still a challenge in most parts of rural Ghana. Generally, peer-to-peer learning, social networks, and participatory channels plays critical roles in knowledge sharing. Female farmers had lower access to and use of innovative climate communication channels like the smartphone-based social media, SMS alerts, than their male counterparts. Farmers are generally concerned that this information lacked precision with regards to particularly rainfall onset, end of rains, drought occurrence and other extremes relating to rainfall such as thunderstorm, floods and windstorm. Climate information lag influenced decisions on crop variety, timing of planting, while incomplete climate-related market information induces economic and social risks to farmers. From this climate information, farmers, although largely aware of essential climate-smart agricultural practices to mitigate climate risk, were not using most of these practices (exceptions were with regards to early/delayed planting in line with forecast; use of drought tolerant varieties; intercropping/diversification and use of short duration or early maturing varieties). Discussions and conclusions The study underscores the significance of communication in empowering farmers to manage risks and adapt to changing climatic conditions. However, systemic challenges—including limited extension services, gender disparities in information access, low digital literacy, and infrastructural constraints could hamper participatory information dissemination which is emerging to be the most reliable way to disseminate trustworthy information in this 21 st century. The findings highlight the need for inclusive, gender-sensitive communication strategies and expanded communication media in building a risk responsive agricultural communication system. Strengthening institutional capacity for timely and tailored information delivery is key to building resilience among smallholder farmers.
Mumuni et al. (Fri,) studied this question.