The Effects of Drought on the Livelihood of Rural Households in the Nandom District of the Upper West Region, Ghana

Abstract

Drought is considered the most threatening component of climate change and its impact is much felt in societies where there is heavy dependence on natural environment and its resources for survival with low coping strategies. The study examines the effects of drought on the livelihood of rural households and their coping strategies in the Nandom District of Upper East Region of Ghana. Descriptive research design was applied in the study.  Questionnaire was the main tool used to collect empirical data. The data was analysed quantitatively. The data were presented in the form of tables and graphs with the use of Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) software and Microsoft Excel. The results indicate that droughts experienced overtime in the district have devastating effects on the livelihood of rural households. Households resort to low paid jobs, migration, pito brewing, societal support systems, fuel wood and charcoal burning to cope with drought. The study concludes that drought is a real phenomenon in the study area. The study recommends that integrated approaches must be adopted to tackle the problem of drought both in the short-run and in the long-run.