Differences in perception and climate change adaptation among migrant and non-migrant maize farmers in Ghana

Climate change is profoundly affecting agricultural systems, driving farmers to employ diverse adaptation strategies, including migration. This study applies bias-corrected count data regression models, integrating propensity score matching with Generalized Poisson regression, to examine the relationship between migration and climate change adaptation using a sample of 492 smallholder maize farmers across the northern and southern zones of Ghana. The findings reveal that smallholder maize farmers in the south of Ghana employ more adaptation strategies (about 8 strategies on average) compared to their counterparts in the northern part of Ghana who adopt an average of about five adaptation strategies. Key challenges identified by the farmers include windstorm, decreased rainfall, and soil degradation. Factors such as household educational status, membership in farmer-based organizations, climate-smart agricultural training, and residence in southern Ghana significantly increased the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies (CCAS). Conversely, migration status negatively impacted CCAS adoption. Policy recommendations include modernizing indigenous agricultural practices, scaling up climate-smart technologies, and enhancing investment in the agricultural sector, particularly in northern Ghana, to support sustained and widespread adoption of climate adaptation strategies. Additionally, tailored support for migrant farmers is essential to mitigate the negative effects of migration on climate resilience.