Integrated soil fertility management as a climate adaptation strategy among women cocoa farmers in Ashanti and Western North regions of Ghana

Abstract Women cocoa farmers in Ghana face significant barriers when accessing agricultural technologies, particularly in the context of climate change. Given the emergence of Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) as a key climate adaptation strategy for cocoa farming, this study assesses women farmers’ perceptions, knowledge, and adaptation to climate change through the adoption of ISFM practices. A mixed methods approach was employed, combining both qualitative (interviews and focus groups) and quantitative (household survey) methods. Guided by the Feminist Political Ecology (FPE) framework, the qualitative component involved two FGD sessions (one per region), each conducted as two parallel groups of 15 women, with a total of 60 farmers across the Western North and Ashanti regions of Ghana. Complementing this, structured household surveys administered to 160 women cocoa farmers providing broader contextual patterns and trends. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics in SPSS 21, while qualitative data were thematically coded and analysed in MAXQDA. Findings indicate that most respondents employ a blend of traditional and improved agronomic practices, with the use of plant residues as mulch being the most adopted adaptation strategy. However, the labour-intensive nature of ISFM practices, particularly for aging farmers, poses a major barrier to adoption. Women farmers show a good understanding of ISFM and combine traditional and modern practices on their cocoa farms despite low formal education. However, their participation is constrained by the labour-intensive nature of some ISFM activities. Expanding access to mechanized solutions could reduce this burden and strengthen women’s involvement in climate-resilient cocoa farming.