El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which occurs in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean, has been identified to have significant influence on rainfall variability throughout the world, especially in the tropics. Such variability in rainfall has implications for agrarian economies, such as that in Ghana. This study therefore sought to demonstrate the effect of ENSO-induced variability in annual and seasonal rainfall on the development of sustainable agriculture in the Ho Municipality of Ghana. Using 61 years of monthly rainfall data (1955–2015) for the Ho Municipality and ENSO indices, this study showed that 15% of the variability in total annual rainfall is explained by the ENSO phenomena. Mean annual rainfall and rainfall in the major rainy season decreased for El Niño years, in addition to a more variable rainfall compared to that received in La Niña years. The major growing season was observed to be longer in La Niña years and shorter in El Niño years. This means that the potential for crop cultivation will be severely hampered in an El Niño year. Farmers within the municipality are therefore encouraged to harness other complementary water sources for farming activities and also employ water management strategies during El Niño years.

中文翻译：

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加纳霍市的厄尔尼诺-南方涛动、降雨变化和可持续农业发展

发生在赤道太平洋的厄尔尼诺 - 南方涛动 (ENSO) 已被确定对世界各地的降雨变化具有重大影响，尤其是在热带地区。降雨量的这种变化对农业经济产生了影响，例如加纳的农业经济。因此，本研究试图证明 ENSO 引起的年度和季节性降雨量变化对加纳胡市可持续农业发展的影响。使用 Ho 市和 ENSO 指数的 61 年月降雨量数据（1955-2015），本研究表明，ENSO 现象可以解释年总降雨量变化的 15%。厄尔尼诺年平均年降雨量和主要雨季降雨量减少，此外，与拉尼娜年的降雨量相比，降雨量变化更大。主要生长季节在拉尼娜年较长，在厄尔尼诺年较短。这意味着在厄尔尼诺年，作物种植的潜力将受到严重阻碍。因此，鼓励市政府内的农民利用其他补充水源开展农业活动，并在厄尔尼诺年期间采用水资源管理策略。