Effect of climate variability on yields of selected staple food crops in northern Ghana

Agriculture in Ghana is vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate variability. This poses a challenge food security across country. Despite this vulnerability, limited research has been conducted understand effect variability on yields staple crops Ghana. study assessed selected (millet, sorghum, rice, groundnut and maize). The used Mann-Kendall trend test multiple regression analysis assess how (in annual rainfall, onset, cessation, number dry days temperature) affected five districts northern (Bole, Nanton, Tolon, Kassena Nankana East Wa) over 21-year period (1995–2016). Results suggested marginal decrease rainfall (p > 0.05) significant increase temperature < districts. Variability length rainy was statistically from year year, also 0.05). indicated substantial crops. Temperature, days, cessation explained about 43%, 32%, 30%, 25% 14%, respectively variations groundnut, millet, maize rice. Our results generally suggest that changing substantially affects production districts, highlighting need for adaptations including use agricultural diversification greater drought tolerant varieties these crops, as well continuing investment crop breeding programmes enhance tolerance.