Socioeconomic determinants of drought adaptation strategies in the Sekyere Afram Plains District, Ghana

This study examines the socioeconomic factors influencing drought adaptation strategies in the Sekyere Afram Plains District, Ghana. The study employed standardized anomaly calculations for climate data trend analysis, descriptive statistics for household survey data, and a multinomial logistic regression to identify the socioeconomic factors influencing the adoption of drought adaptation practices. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The analysis of climatic data from 1993 to 2023 reveals erratic rainfall patterns and a significant increase in temperature, contributing to drought conditions. Most respondents reported that drought adversely affects their livelihoods, income, and agricultural yields. In response, they prioritized adaptation practices such as rainwater harvesting, water conservation, and soil conservation, while adaptive water allocation policies were least favored. The study highlights that socioeconomic factors have a significant influence on the adoption of these strategies. Gender negatively impacts water and soil conservation practices but positively affects livelihood diversification. Age negatively influences the adoption of various drought adaptation practices. In contrast, larger household sizes positively affect relocation, livelihood diversification, ecosystem restoration, and climate-smart agriculture practices but negatively impact early drought warning adoption. Policy implications include the need for targeted awareness and training programs, gender-sensitive policies, support for larger households, promotion of adaptive water allocation policies, and the enhancement of climate-smart agriculture initiatives. Addressing these factors can enhance the district’s resilience to drought and ensure sustainable livelihoods.