The Impact of Crop Farmers’ Decision on Future Land Use, Land Cover Changes in Kintampo North Municipality of Ghana

Abstract

PURPOSE: This paper aims to access the rate and land category contributing to the changes in seven land uses in the Kintampo North Municipality of Ghjana and the effect of the decisions of land users on future land scapes. DESIGN METHODOLOGY APPROACH: LANDSAT images were classified to generate land use/cover maps to detect changes that had occurred between 1986 and 2014. In total, 120 farmers were also interviewed to determine their perception on land use changes. Interval, category and transition levels of changes were determined. Savannah woodland, settlement and forest were mostly converted to farm land in both intervals (1986-2001 and 2001 – 2014) FINDINGS: Results show that rock outcrop, plantation, cropland and Savannah woodland increased at an annual rate of 13.86, 1.57, 0.82 and 0.33 percent, respectively, whilst forest, settlement and water body. Decreased at 4.90, 1.84 and 1.17 percent annual rate of change, respectively. Approximately, 74 percent of farmers will not change land use in the future, while 84.2 percent plan to increase farm sizes. RESEARCH LIMITATION/IMPLICATIONS: The study shows that more land cover will be targeted for conversion as farmers expand their farmlands. There is the need for strict implementation of appropriate and use/cover policies to sustain food production in the region in thjis era of changing climate and population increase. ORIGINALITY/VALUES: This research assesses the land use changes in Kintampo North municipality and its impact on agriculture and carbon stock release via land use changes. It identied how the decisions of the local farmers on land management will affect future land scape.