Climate change coping and adaptation strategies: How do cocoa farmers in Ghana diversify farm income?

Climate change poses a serious threat to many farmers' yield and income. Previous studies often applied a general approach to examine climate change mitigation strategies implemented by farmers. Our study focuses on income diversification of cocoa farmers in Ghana as a strategy to cope with climate change. We compiled data from 400 cocoa farmers, and applied a Heckman two-step regression to investigate the probability and extent of cocoa farm income diversification. Further, we used beta regression to determine the share of annual farm income generated by diversification. Most cocoa farmers in our study region diversify farm income as a strategy to reduce climate change impacts. These strategies comprise crop and livestock diversification, intercropping of cocoa farms, provision of labour for other farmers, and agricultural-related economic off-farm activities. Factors that influence income diversification include the age of the farm, access to credits, extension contacts, the information sources on climate change, and government support. The study provides recommendations for policy- and decision-makers to enhance diversification strategies in the country's cocoa sector. These include the provision of financial credits, farm input subsidies, and farmers' training on farm management. •Income diversification is an important strategy of Ghanaian cocoa farmers to cope with climate change.•Diversification strategies include crop and livestock diversification, intercropping, and off-farm economic activities.•There are differences in the probability and extent of cocoa farm diversification and the share of annual income generated.•On average diversification of income contributes about 18% of cocoa farmers' annual income.