Adaptation Strategies of Poultry Farmers to Rising Temperature in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Increasing temperature is being observed in Ghana by about one degree Celsius since the 1970s and this is affecting poultry production due to the vulnerability of the bird to high temperature. This paper examines the awareness of increasing temperature on poultry farms and identifies the adaptation methods in response, by farmers in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. A systematic sampling approach was employed to gather data from thirty eight registered poultry farmers. Results indicate that, most poultry farmers are aware of the increasing temperature mainly through the news media but not from observations on their farms. The observed signs of heat stress in birds were birds spreading their wings, pecking the feathers of other birds in the form of cannibalism and gasping. These responses, as the farmers point out, negatively affect poultry production by decreasing their feed consumption which eventually leads to their low weight and delayed time of maturity. Most farmers also perceive that increasing temperature will increase the price of poultry products and cause a reduction in stock density. The findings further showed that since there is a limit to which birds can adapt to increasing temperatures, farmers are willing to invest in devices or strategies that can control the temperatures on their farms. One paramount practice is tree planting on the farm

The New Roles of Legon Botanical Garden as Visitor Destination in Ghana

Purpose: This study aims to examine the travel motivations and determine the most attractive facilities of visitors to the University of Ghana's Legon botanical garden in Accra, Ghana. Research Methodology: The study relied on convenience sampling method to administer structured questionnaires to 127 visitors to the Legon botanical garden.  Results: Findings show that the main reason for visiting the garden is to admire the beauty of the garden which is the main reason for establishing botanical gardens. The most attractive facility in the garden, however, turns out to be the canopy walkway and the lawn. Conspicuously missing is the fact that they did not avail themselves to enquire or demand to know tree species and their names in the garden. Limitations: The study is limited to only adults who visited the garden at the time of the study even though they are on the minority compared to children. Also, the study is limited only to the Legon botanical garden even though it is not the only garden in Ghana. Contribution: This study contributes to the knowledge in the social sciences by pointing out the most important reasons why people are visiting botanical gardens. This is because the number of visitors seems to be increasing in Ghana. However, the findings show that the visitors do not visit the garden for education, research or conservation purposes but for leisure activities which is not the main reason for establishing these gardens. Keywords: Botanical garden, Visitors, Motivation, Facilities, Ghan