Land Use/Land Cover Dynamics and Their Effects on Smallholder Farming in the Tolon District, Ghana

Abstract

Agriculture is the backbone of many economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, with smallholder farms making up 80% of all farms in the region. However, these farms are increasingly affected by land use and land cover change (LULCC). Land use changes are accelerating in the Tolon District of Ghana, driven by the development of pole areas such as the Nyankpala campus of the UDS, the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute and the new district hospital. These growth hubs contribute to the conversion of smallholder farms into built-up areas, while sand mining further degrades farmland. This study aims to analyze LUCC trends in the Tolon District from 1992 to 2022, understand the factors driving LUCC, and project future LUCC effects on farmland over the next 30 years. Using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach, the study integrates Remote Sensing and GIS to map LUCC trends and combines focus groups, key informant interviews, and surveys to investigate LUCC drivers. The outcome of the LUCC trends revealed notable land cover changes in the Tolon District from 1990 to 2022. Savannah woodland cover decreased substantially, from 67.7% to 48.2%. Conversely, farmland expanded significantly, growing from 31.7% to 47.1%. The outcomes on the impacts of the LULCC on farmlands suggest a strong positive linear relationship between population expansion and farmland expansion in the Tolon District. Farmers in the Tolon District identified population growth as the main driver of land use and cover changes. The LUCC forecast in Tolon District indicates a substantial increase in farmland, expanding from 74,919.1 hectares (55.3%) in 2032 to 83,409.8 hectares (61.6%) by 2052. In contrast, Savannah Woodland is expected to decline significantly, from 39.3% (53,216.3 hectares) in 2032 to 31.4% (42,558.8 hectares) in 2052. The study highlights critical LULCC impacting smallholder farms in the Tolon District and savannah woodland loss which could affect the local achievement of SDG 15: “ecosystem conservation”. Therefore, land use policies should be strengthened to ensure sustainable land use. Also, reforestation should be encouraged to restore degraded ecosystems.