Research | Patterns of inclusion and exclusion in climate information access through community radio among smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana

Enoch Kwame Tham-Agyekum ^1,2, Fred Nimoh ², Alassan Seidou Assani ³, Tafadzwa Clementine Maramura ⁴, Juliana Jepkemoi Cheboi ⁵, Ruth Wambui Wainaina ⁶ &

John-Eudes Andivi Bakang ²

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1. Future Africa, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; 2. Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, KNUST-Kumasi, Kumasi, Ghana; 3. Faculty of Agronomy, University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin; 4. Department of Public Management and Political Studies, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia; 5. Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya; 6. African Centre of Technology Studies, Nairobi, Kenya

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Abstract: Who gets access to climate information and who is left out matters for farmers’ ability to respond to climate risks. This study examined patterns of inclusion and exclusion in climate information access through community radio among smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected from 1200 farmers through surveys and complemented with key informant interviews. Community radio serves as a multi-dimensional knowledge platform, delivering information on weather, crop management, indigenous knowledge, livestock strategies, and market. Majority of the respondents (58.08%) listening daily to climate-related broadcasts through their personal radios (44.25%) and mobile phones (37.83%). The findings show clear patterns of inclusion and exclusion. Women had lower physical (p < 0.01), economic and institutional/policy accessibility (p < 0.05), while larger households experienced lower physical, economic and institutional/policy accessibility (p < 0.01). Access to credit was negatively associated with all four dimensions (p < 0.01), whereas extension access influenced physical, economic and institutional/policy accessibility (p < 0.01). Higher income also influenced physical, economic and institutional/policy accessibility (p < 0.01). The study recommends strengthening inclusive community radio and extension services by prioritising women and economically disadvantaged farmers and providing climate information through accessible, complementary channels.

Keywords: Accessibility, Community radio, Climate information, Drought-prone,

Northern Ghana

Funding: This publication was made possible (in part) by a grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, formerly Carnegie Corporation of New York through The Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship (FAR-LeaF) Programme, Future Africa, University of Pretoria, South Africa under Grant number G-PS-23-60692. The statements made and the views expressed are solely the responsibility of the author.

Cite this article

Tham-Agyekum, E.K., Nimoh, F., Assani, A.S. et al. Patterns of inclusion and exclusion in climate information access through community radio among smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana. Discov Agric 4, 310 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-026-00792-0

Open Access

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Contributions: All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Author 1, 2 and Author 3. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Author 1, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. Author 1, author 4, author 5, and author 6 contributed to the interpretation of the results and critical revision of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.