Implement strategic irrigation schemes to combat climate crisis and food insecurity- Savannah Regional Best Farmer
The 2024 overall Savannah Regional Best Farmer, Patience Nkaara Kpiniong, has reiterated a call for the government of Ghana and agricultural stakeholders to adopt long-term strategies to tackle the devastating and increasing effects of climate change on agriculture in the country.
She emphasized the importance of developing large-scale irrigation schemes and climate-resilient farming practices, especially in northern Ghana. “These systems can ensure a steady water supply for farming, mitigating the risks associated with unreliable rainfall amid shifting climate patterns,” she said.
According to her, strategic investment in irrigation systems at key locations across the Ghana can transform agriculture in the country to facilitate all-year-round farming to boost productivity and reduce farmers’ dependency on seasonal rains, adding “This approach also provides an opportunity to cultivate high-value crops that require consistent water supply, improving farmers’ incomes.”
In 2024, dry spells and drought conditions severely impacted crop production across 1.8 million hectares of agricultural land in northern and middle Ghana. The Ghana Grains Council (GGC) reported that the Northern and Savannah Regions, which contribute significantly to the nation’s maize, millet, sorghum, and rice production, experienced the most damage. Farmers saw maize yields plummet by 35 percent and rice production decline by 25 percent, while millet and sorghum yields dropped by approximately 20 percent.
Speaking in an interview, Mrs. Kpiniong said the recent drought spell, one of the worst in over decades in the country, exposed the weaknesses of the agricultural system, saying “Smallholder farmers have suffered massive losses as a result. Staples such as rice, maize, groundnuts, and millet have withered on the fields due to insufficient rainfall, leading to failed or minimal harvests.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Karamel Farms alluded that the situation has not only threatened farmers’ incomes but also “heightened a looming food shortages or crisis in northern Ghana and the entire country in general.”
“As farmers who rely solely on rain-fed agriculture, the lack of rainfall means a complete loss of our primary source of food and income. Such losses further deepen a cycle of poverty which extends beyond the field to local markets, where food prices are increasing and further straining households already struggling to make ends meet,” she added.
About Karamel Farms
Karamel Farms, a female-led agribusiness operating in the Savannah Region, specializes in cultivating, aggregating, and processing staple crops like rice, maize, and soybeans for both domestic and international markets. The agribusiness empowers over 150 smallholder farmers in the region by providing essential farm inputs and mechanization services that improve crop yields, reduce post-harvest losses, and strengthen more resilient farming communities.
