Severe drought hits Northern Ghana and causes widespread fears of food insecurity

Northern Ghana has been hit with severe drought which has raised widespread fears about food security and the livelihoods of thousands of farmers.

 The region has been without rain for more than two months, with the prolonged drought slowing crop growth and giving farmers little hope for a successful harvest.

Due to a lack of rainfall, staple crops such as rice, maize, groundnuts, and millet have withered, causing massive losses.

The prolonged  drought has resulted in a significant decline in food production, prompting concerns about a probable food shortage and impending famine.

Some farmers who spoke to Channel One TV expressed fears over the lack of rains.

“We would have harvested a long time if there had been rain. The corn would have been ready for us to harvest but I think this is a disaster for us because you can see what is happening here. We are currently hopeless,” one farmer lamented.

The 2021 National Best Farmer, Alhaji Mashoud Mohammed also lamented the impact of the drought on his business and ascribed it to climate change.

“Possibly, we may be breaking even but we doubt we will make profits. We are dealing with about 1,333 acres of maize field, and almost 2,170 acres of rice, soya bean and sorghum. Looking at the impact of this drought, by now, we should have finished planting everything but we are still waiting for the rains to come so we can plant sorghum and cowpea.

“If you look at the northern sector, for almost three weeks now, the place is cold and sunshine is not hitting the earth’s surface very well to cause transpiration and evaporation to form rain and this is where we are today with this drought.”

Source : Florence Kyei / Lead News Online