Livelihood Vulnerability and Adaptive Capacity of Smallholder Oil Palm Farmers in Kwaebibirem Municipality of Ghana

Abstract

Several studies reveal that smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa are the most likely to experience livelihood vulnerability. This study therefore, investigate livelihood vulnerability and adaptive capacity of smallholder oil palm farmers in Kwaebibirem Municipality of the Eastern Region of Ghana. A cross-sectional survey design was employed and a simple random sampling technique was used to select 204 smallholder oil palm farmers. A structured interview schedule was used to correct primary data. Principal Component Analysis was conducted to determine factors that best explain the exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity of the farmers. Composite livelihood vulnerability Index was used to calculate respondents’ levels of exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity and livelihood vulnerability. It was found that farmers' exposure to vulnerability is moderate to high especially to institutional constraint. The sensitivity indices were 0.54 and 0.81 respectively indicating that farmers’ sensitivity was moderate to high. The adaptive capacity of the farmers was found to be moderate and they can use several strategies including, farm practices strategy, institutional strategy, on and off-farm strategy, information strategy, intervening strategy, selling strategy, transacting strategy, marketing strategy, chemical control strategy, organizational strategy and certified material use strategy. In Kwaebibirem Municipality, smallholder oil palm farmers are vulnerable. It is recommended that, Department of Agriculture educate the farmers on good agronomic practices and livelihood strategy diversification to increase their options at reducing livelihood vulnerability.