How do climate change adaptation strategies result in unintended maladaptive outcomes? Perspectives of tomato farmers

Abstract

Most studies on farmers’ adaptation strategies do not adequately treat the downside of such practices, and how practitioners can survive with the strategies in the wake of climate variability and change. Emphasis has always been on benefits of adaptation which includes showing resilience to increase food production, enhancing livelihood outcomes with less vulnerability, and reducing poverty. This project was undertaken to determine unintended maladaptive outcomes resulting from farmers’ adaptive strategies to climate variability. The project took place in rural southern Ghana with input from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) growers from the Offinso North District. To mitigate adverse effects of climate variability on tomato productivity, adaptive strategies resulted in reduction in agro-biodiversity, release of greenhouse gas, pollution of nearby water, increasing soil acidity above the optimum requirement of tomato, adverse effects of household farm labor, increasing vulnerability of dependents, increasing pressure on social facilities, competition of crops for nutrients, moisture and sun light, and increase in spread of pests and diseases. Age, gender, formal education, farming experience, and access to extension services influenced farmers’ perceived maladaptive outcomes of adaptation strategies. Adaptation strategies to climate variability, if unchecked, can increase vulnerability, or erode, sustainable development opportunities for farmers in rural agroecological settings