Perceived Effects of Rainfall and Temperature Variability on Yields of Cereal Crops in the Mion District of Northern Ghana

Abstract

 Climate variability has been a major threat to achieving sustainable food production in many countries, including Ghana. This is attributable to insufficient and erratic rainfall coupled with increasing temperature. This study examined the perceived effects of rainfall and temperature variability on yields of cereal crops in the Mion District of the Northern Region. The study reveals that farmers in the Mion District have experienced changes in climatic conditions evident in high temperatures and low rainfall. The study also reveals that rainfall and temperature variability adversely affect the yields of cereal crops such as rice, maize, and millet. The effect could manifest in either yield reduction or total crop failure of cereals. The study also showed that factors that enable farmers to respond to impacts of rainfall and temperature variability are Agric extension services, application of fertilizer, irrigation farming, use of improved seeds, and favourable government policies such as subsidies and credit facilities.   The study, therefore, concludes that yields of cereal crops are adversely affected by rainfall and temperature variability. However, farmers resort to Agric extension services, application of fertilizer, irrigation farming, use of improved variety of seeds, and favourable government policies in response to the impacts of rainfall and temperature variability. The study recommends that government should employ more extension agents and construct more irrigation facilities in the Mion District to reduce the adverse effects of climate variability on yields of cereal crops.