Abstract:
It has been predicted that, the overall impacts of climate change or variation on
agriculture will be negative. Hence the significance of adaptation measures for
poverty reduction, especially among crop producers has been emphasised. It has
however been noted that although climate variation affects everybody, it is not
gender neutral. Data on the nature and extent of adaptation to climate variation
by cassava farmers from a gender perspective in Ghana are lacking. Therefore,
the present study sought to explore the gender dimensions involved in the
adaptation to climate variation on cassava production by farmers in the Awutu
Senya West District. Data used for the present study was obtained through both
quantitative and qualitative methods with a sample size of 252 cassava farmers
and key informants. Results showed clear gender dimensions with regards to
climate variation adaptation strategies used by the farmers. Some of the
challenges that constitute serious barriers to adaptations include, gender
imbalance in formal education, poor access to weather information especially by
female farmers, and the lack of interest for the use of improved cassava varieties
by male farmers. It is therefore recommended that policy makers, and researchers
adopt a gender sensitive approach in the sensitization of farmers on the how to
appropriately identify issues relating to climate variability. They should also
ensure that there is equity in the distribution of climate-smart resources and
information among male and female cassava farmers and the need to use them
