The Upper East Region of Ghana, a significant food basket for maize, rice, and millet, is facing a potential threat to its maize harvest due to a prolonged dry spell and poor tasselling of maize crops. According to Mr. Ibrahim Jambeidu, the Upper East Regional Focal Person of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), the dry spell has affected maize farms in several communities, including Tempane, Pusiga, Binduri, and Zebilla.
Mr. Jambeidu stated that although the maize crops developed tall and green stalks, many failed to tassel properly, resulting in few or no grains. He expressed concern that this situation could negatively impact food availability in the region next year if urgent measures are not taken to support farmers. The region's maize production is crucial to its economy, and any decline in yields could have significant effects on food security.
The poor performance of maize crops in the region has been linked to the choice of seeds used by farmers. Mr. Jambeidu suggested that some local maize varieties appear less tolerant to the prevailing weather conditions and urged farmers to adopt improved and climate-resilient seed varieties. He personally tested hybrid maize seeds on his one-acre farm and recorded better performance, although the cost of the seeds remained a challenge.
Mr. Jambeidu spent between GH¢1,000 and GH¢1,500 on the hybrid seeds, which he believes could be a worthwhile investment for farmers to improve their yields. However, he noted that the high cost of these seeds could be a barrier for many farmers. The use of improved seed varieties could help farmers in the region cope with changing climatic conditions and improve their yields.
The food situation in the region could become difficult next year due to the expected decline in maize production. Mr. Jambeidu warned that farmers were unlikely to produce enough maize and other food crops to meet demand, and any significant food supply available next year might largely come from produce stored from the previous season. Many farmers had been unable to sell their stocks due to poor market conditions.
Mr. Jambeidu advised farmers who still had stocks of old produce to store them properly to preserve the food for consumption in the coming year. He also called on the Government to support farmers with improved seed varieties for maize, sorghum, and rice to enable them to cope with changing climatic conditions and improve yields. This support could help mitigate the effects of the dry spell and poor tasselling on maize production.
The potential decline in maize production in the Upper East Region could have significant effects on food security in the region. The region's reliance on maize as a major food crop makes it vulnerable to any decline in yields. The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana and other stakeholders will likely be monitoring the situation closely and advocating for support for farmers in the region.
Key points
- The dry spell and poor maize tasselling in Ghana's Upper East Region threaten to negatively impact maize yields and food availability in the region.
- The use of improved and climate-resilient seed varieties could help farmers in the region cope with changing climatic conditions and improve their yields.
- The Government has been called upon to support farmers with improved seed varieties for maize, sorghum, and rice to enable them to cope with changing climatic conditions and improve yields.
