Examining Farm Management Practices and Implications for Food Crop Production in Semi-arid Ghana

The unsustainable exploitation of natural resources combined with climate change and poor agroecosystem management practices has left the semi-arid areas of West Africa among one of the most degraded agroecosystems in the world. This condition affects the food crop production potential of the region. This paper examines farmers' responses to climatic and ecological setbacks to enhance food crop production in the Tolon District of Northern Ghana. The study adopted a mixed method data collection appraoch. First, transect walks were undertaken in selected study communities to observe the agroecological landscapes, major agricultural land use types, dominant cropping patterns, and density of farming across the landscape. Secondly, an on-farm management survey was conducted to obtain information on the existing farm management practices and land preparation methods. Thirdly, Focus group discussions were held to determine the extents of adoption of primary farm management practices. The results revealed that current farming practices often involve the complete removal of organic residue in farmlands. This practice hinders plant nutrient retention and limits the buildup of soil organic carbon critical for food crop production. We also found increased incidence of droughts as a major challenge to farming. To boost food production potential, chemical fertilizer is the most valued soil amendment by farmers in Tolon even the though majority of farmers are unable to apply the recommended fertilizer amounts. The above findings suggest that any attempt to boost crop production and improve agroecological resilience to recent threats such as climate change without consideration of the restoration of agroecological integrity will be less sustainable. Policy makers and development agencies can take advantage of the high utilization of new technologies such as mobile phones and radio in such communities to deliver targeted programs to farmers meant to restore agroecological integrity.