By Rafiq Nungor ADAM
Farmers in the Upper West Region are in distress as a prolonged dry spell devastates their maize crops.
Market women are also feeling the impact as farmers withhold their produce, fearing food insecurity.
Impact of the dry spell on farmers
“I don’t want us to go to the farm; let’s have the interview here because most of my maize has gone bad and my investments are all lost. I feel like crying when I visit the farm. Even if you strike a match on the farm, it will burn because it hasn’t rained here in the Bakwa community for over 25 days. If I were to estimate, I’d say about 90% of my farm is affected except for areas closer to the riverside,” lamented a farmer from Bakwa community in the Tumu municipality.
Another farmer, Abu from Chalu in the Tumu municipality, shared a similar plight, stating that all his crops were drying up. “My farm is in such a state that if you go there you will not see anything. All my crops are dying. The drought destroyed my farm, and it will be difficult to retrieve anything if the rain doesn’t come. If nothing is done, we might die of hunger this year.”
Siafu Borsu from Dimajan in the Sissala East municipality added that the 25 acres he farmed early in June has gone bad, and even if it rains there will be nothing to harvest. He remains hopeful that the crops he planted in July, which are still growing, might survive if it rains soon.
In an interview, District Director of Agriculture for Wa East, Madam Mavis Derigubah, confirmed that the dry spell is affecting the entire Upper West Region, including the Wa East district.
She painted a bleak picture of the situation in her district: “The dry spell has not been easy at all. It has affected grains and cereals, even roots and tubers. Right now, if you strike a match on some of the maize or soybeans planted they will burn.
“The drought has been so long that it’s affected every crop on the ground, and farmers are now worried about whether it will rain or not. In some areas, it hasn’t rained for almost two months.”
In an interview with B&FT, the Acting Regional Director of Agriculture, Huudu Abu, acknowledged the situation – explaining that farmers who used the early rains to plant maize are the most severely affected.
“The Sissala enclaves are zones of maize production in the region, and they cover the largest acreages. However, this year has been unique and strange with unusual rain patterns. This has delayed early maize production, and those who took advantage of the early May rains are now suffering the most due to this dry spell that has lasted for more than 20 days,” he added.
Warning signs from Ghana Meteorological Agency
Upper West Regional Meteorologist, Henry Tutu, explained that the agency regularly releases seasonal weather forecasts every three months, which predict how the weather will be throughout the year.
“We did indicate to the public that there would be a change in weather patterns, and this is what we are experiencing. Though the days we forecasted have passed, we are still experiencing a dry spell. This year, the pattern of dry spells has really changed in terms of longevity. I can say that we are experiencing the longest dry spell ever since I came here,” he said.
According to the Regional Director-Ghana Meteorological Agency, “A dry spell refers to the number of successive days without rain. After the season’s onset this year, we forecasted that the Upper West Region would have about 10 to 12 days of dry spells. However, it has extended to about 15 days”.
What is a dry spell?
A dry spell is a period of abnormally dry weather lasting from a few weeks to several months, leading to water scarcity and affecting agriculture, ecosystems and human activities.
Economic impact of the dry spell
Anatu Mohammed, a Level 300 student at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tumu, faces a daunting challenge. Her investment in three acres of maize production has been severely impacted by the dry spell, resulting in significant losses. With school resuming soon, Anatu is worried about how she will afford her Level 400 fees.
A market woman in Wa municipality’s Kajatia Market, Madam Sahadatu Abu, told B&FT that the dry spell is hitting them hard as farmers no longer sell their maize for fear of a food shortage this year.
“If we go to buy maize these days, we don’t get it. Those in the village who have maize tell us they can’t sell because if it doesn’t rain again, where will they get food to eat? We are suffering here in the market, as maize is what we depend on to take care of our children,” she said.
She emphasised that even when farmers decide to sell, the prices are higher. “If you buy maize and come to sell it, you barely break even due to transport costs and other expenses. Right now, we’re just working to keep busy, but we’re not making a profit at all. I’ve thought of stopping, but how will I feed my children?”
Ajara Ma also noted that if the situation doesn’t improve, they will suffer and may go out of business. “If nothing changes, we will face severe hardship next year. If it doesn’t rain we will stop trading, because maize won’t be available to buy and sell. We will only sit at home and cry. A sack of maize now costs GH₵1,250. Things are bad.”
Farmers Call for Support
In an interview, the focal person for peasant farmers in the Daffiama Bussie Issa District, Lawie Bonzo Vincent, passionately called on government and organisations to come to their rescue, as most farmers use loans for farming and are facing losses due to the dry spell.
“I urgently call on the government of Ghana and NGOs to provide us with small-scale irrigation schemes to support our agricultural production for the 2024/2025 cropping season. The prolonged drought in our district is affecting over 800 farmers and putting the livelihoods of 8,000 household members in serious jeopardy.”
Food insecurity
Commenting on potential food insecurity concerns, Regional Director of Agriculture, Huudu Abu said: “If the rains don’t come, maize and other crop production will gradually reduce. With reduced total harvests, the little produce available in the market may lead to a rush. However, if the rains resume we might have an adequate amount of harvested maize and other crops in the market”.
Maize production in the Upper West Region
In 2023, the Upper West Region produced 238,849 metric tonnes of maize. Source: Regional Agriculture Department, UWR
Issues of climate change
Henry Tutu, Regional Meteorologist, attributes the prolonged dry spell to climate change, stating: “Climate change has significantly impacted the region’s weather. When we talk about climate change we mean extreme weather conditions, whether it’s extreme drought or floods. This year we recorded a temperature of 45°C, which we’ve never recorded in this region”.
Recommendations
Madam Mavis Derigubah recommends that if it rains, farmers should not plant maize again. Instead, they should go for short-duration crops like sorghum or cowpea. For those who have planted maize and soybeans that have dried up, they can replant alongside the same rows without relaying them.
Regional Director Mr. Huudu also recommends increasing water-bodies and considering drought-tolerant crops in the long run. Mr. Tutu appealed to the people of the region to stop cutting down trees for commercial purposes and instead plant more trees, as deforestation contributes to the prolonged dry spell in the region.
