Rainfall onset and cessation date greatly influence cropping calendar decisions in rain-fed agricultural systems. This paper examined trends of onsets, cessation, and the length of growing season over Northern Ghana using CHIRPS-v2, gauge, and farmers’ perceptions data between 1981 and 2019. Results from CHIRPS-v2 revealed that the three seasonal rainfall indices have substantial latitudinal variability. Significant late and early onsets were observed at the West and East of 1.5◦ W longitude, respectively. Significant late cessations and longer growing periods occurred across Northern Ghana. The ability of farmers’ perceptions and CHIRPS-v2 to capture rainfall onsets are time and location-dependent. A total of 71% of farmers rely on traditional knowledge to forecast rainfall onsets. Adaptation measures applied were not always consistent with the rainfall seasonality. More investment in modern climate information services is required to complement the existing local knowledge of forecasting rainfall seasonality.

https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12121674

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Muthoni, Francishttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6785-0550

Bekele Hundie Kotuhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5788-6461

Fred Kizitohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7488-2582

https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12121674

Biometrics; Natural Resource Management

Agronomy; Climate Change; Crop Systems; Food Security; Food Systems

Farmers; Rainfall; Climate Change Adaptation

Africa; West Africa

Ghana

Eastern Africa Hub; Headquarters and Western Africa Hub

Atmosphere