Empirical Evidence of Climate Change: Effects on Rice Production in the Northern Region of Ghana

The evidence of climate change is very crucial in finding alternative solutions to dealing with its effects on agricultural productivity. This study analysed the empirical evidence of climate change and its effects on rice production in the Northern Region of Ghana. The study used paired t-test to establish that climate change is evident in the study area. The climatic conditions in the area have become warmer over the past 40years. Yield response regression model used to determine the effects of temperature and rainfall on rice yield indicated that if an average annual temperature increases by 1ºC, rice yield will decrease by 0.15mt/ha. The study recommends that NGOs and District Assemblies should introduce water conserving measures such as rain harvesting technology to farmers. Farmers should be encouraged to plant trees or integrate trees in their rice farms to serve as canopies to reduce the amount of temperature reaching rice plants.