Why “formal” climate adaptation strategies fail in sub‐Saharan Africa: Ignoring adapters’ agency in the case of smallholding agriculture farming practices in Bono East Region of Ghana

This paper reviewed a body of literature on climate adaptation options in sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) smallholding agriculture and complemented it with case study involving experts interviews, focus group discussions, large-scale household surveys, farmer practices observation while drawing insight from the concept “everyday interrupted agency” agency theory to assess perceived limitations climate-smart (CSA) climate-wise food systems (CWFS) for SSA. The noted that narrow CSA and/or CWFS as silver bullet change suitable ignores producers’ undermine sustainable inclusive solutions. Moreover, smallholder farmers’ everyday could be grouped into three categories; on-farm adaptation, off-farm Indigenous agroecological options. are usually intensification extensification. include livelihood diversification activities, petty trading, seasonal labor jobs, migration. strategy uses observing nature weather elements predict onset rainy season. smallholders’ options, which is an expression their agency, motivated by desire resilient changing climate, increase productivity income, social network influence but not necessarily because being promoted government or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Therefore, we propose (SFA)—a multifaceted blended constellation mitigation strategies, best approach addressing crises SFA allows individuals groups decide what work them adapt produce distribute without undermining economic, social, environmental bases generate security nutrition present future generations.