期刊名称：Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences
印刷版ISSN：1943-815X
电子版ISSN：1943-8168
出版年度：2020
卷号：17
期号：1
页码：1-34
DOI：10.1080/1943815X.2020.1729207
出版社：Taylor & Francis
摘要：Farming in Ghana’s Volta delta is increasingly affected by variability in
rainfall conditions and changes in land-use patterns. Under such socioecological
conditions, little is known about farmers’ decision-making in
response to uncertainties in uncertain rainfall conditions. To fill this
gap and add to the literature on adaptive decision-making, we
addressed the central question: what are the existing patterns of
farming decision-making under uncertain rainfall conditions, and
which decision-making strategies are adaptive? We developed an
adaptive decision-making framework to investigate the behavior of
farmers under variable rainfall conditions in Ghana’s Volta delta in the
Ada East District. We conducted 5 interviews with agricultural extension
agents, 44 in-depth interviews and 4 focus group discussion with
farmers. Subsequently, we interviewed a sub-selection of 32 farmers.
Findings of the study shows that farmers carry out different decisionmaking
patterns in response to the variable rainfall conditions. We
distinguished six strategies: three based on flexibility and three based
on robustness. Flexible adaptive decision-making strategies are switching
dates for sowing seeds through wait-and-see or delay strategy,
muddling through the farming season with the application of various
options and alternative irrigation strategies. Robust adaptive decisionmaking
strategies are portfolio strategy of transplanting seedlings in
batches, selection of robust (hardy) crops, and intercropping or diversification.
Based on how farmers select strategies in response to
uncertainty in rainfall conditions, we argue that some decision-making
strategies are more adaptive than others. Findings of this study are
relevant for the design and implementation of climate related agricultural
projects.
关键词：Adaptive decision-making ; uncertainty ; weather conditions ; farming ; Ada East District ; deltas
