Influence of access to climate information on the resilience of cocoa farmers in Ghana’s Suhum District

Abstract

Climate change poses a significant threat to Ghana’s cocoa sector, highlighting the need for resilient farming systems. Access to climate information is widely considered a critical enabler of resilience, yet empirical evidence specific to cocoa farmers remains limited. This study assesses the influence of climate information access on the resilience of cocoa farmers in Ghana’s Suhum District. Survey data from 388 farmers were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings reveal a significant information gap, with 70% of farmers lacking access to climate information. Mobile phone–based internet platforms are the dominant source of climate information. Farmers mainly receive information on routine farm practices rather than technical meteorological indicators. Institutional and socio-economic factors, especially access to credit and resident status, are the key drivers of climate information access. Farmers show moderate absorptive and adaptive capacity but strong transformative capacity. Access to climate information is the strongest predictor of farmers’ resilience, alongside education, income, farm size, FBO membership, and access to credit. It is recommended that extension officers intensify the dissemination of climate information during routine farm visits and group meetings, with particular attention to farmers who are currently excluded from information flows.