Access, Adoption, and Impacts of Climate Information Services on Food Security Among Maize Farmers in Ghana

This study examines how maize farming households in Ghana’s transitional agro-ecological zones, with a focus on the Ashanti Region, access and use Climate Information Services (CIS), influence on household food security. Cross-sectional data from 550 maize farmers collected between January and February 2025 were analysed using Multinomial Endogenous Switching Regression (MESR) and Multivalued Inverse Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment (MIPWRA) models to estimate these effects. Results reveal that awareness of short-term weather forecasts was widespread, while adoption of advanced CIS, such as seasonal forecasts, remained limited. Education, farm size, access to training, and farmer-based organisation (FBO) membership positively influenced CIS adoption, whereas smartphone ownership was negatively associated with full adoption, reflecting digital literacy constraints. Bundled CIS use, combining weather, crop, and pest information, yielded the strongest household food security gains. Effective CIS interventions should prioritise integrated advisory delivery, targeted support for resource-poor farmers, and stronger coordination among extension services, meteorological agencies, and farmer organisations. The findings show that the depth and configuration of CIS engagement matter more than access alone, supporting frameworks that emphasise differentiated adoption pathways in climate adaptation.