Abstract:
Heavy dependence on the natural environment for agricultural production in northern
Ghana adversely affects the availability of agrobiodiversity and in turn household
livelihoods. Farmers have over the years developed strategies for adapting to reduction in
agrobiodiversity but the extent of adoption varies among farmers. This study used the
multinomial logit model to determine the factors influencing farmers’ choice of indigenous
adaptation strategies in response to agrobiodiversity loss in northern Ghana. The analysis
is based on a sample of 310 farmers drawn from 31 communities in northern Ghana. The
factors that positively influence the choice include household head’s sex, farming
experience, radio ownership, household size, borrowing credit and awareness of
reduction in crop diversity. On the other hand, age, education, farm size, awareness of
climate change, farm cash income and existence of market in community, negatively
influence choice of strategies. Furthermore, farmer to farmer extension and off-farm
income influence adoption either positively or negatively with respect to the adoption
option in question. Thus, to encourage adaptation and conservation mechanisms, policies
should strengthen farmer based organizations and promote education on the sustainable
use of the natural environment. Government policies must also enhance access to offfarm
income generating activities.
