Climate Change causes hazards to farmers

Mr. Adam Imoro, District Chief Executive (DCE) for East Mamprusi, has indicated that Climate Change poses serious business risks to farmers, especially those in the North.

He pointed out that Climate Change was a serious threat to farming activities, with the potential of impacting negatively on businesses of the private sector and the socio-economic development in the country.

Mr. Imoro expressed these concerns in a speech read on his behalf at a two-day workshop on Participatory Planning Scenario (PSP), organised by Care International in collaboration with the East Mamprusi District Assembly.

He said, “Climate change adaptation is no longer optional, but essential for sustainable livelihoods in the country.”

The PSP workshop was to build the capacity of the participants on the effective means of sharing both scientific and indigenous weather forecasts, for interpretation into useful information for climate resilience and disaster risk reduction.

Mr. Imoro stated that, “climate change is real and we have no option, but to develop appropriate climate change adaptation measures, such as behavioral change, so that we don’t regret our actions on the environment.”

He urged the participants to come out with effective adaptation and mitigation strategy plans, to ensure sustainable livelihoods, especially for small-scale farmers in the region.

Mr. Charles Kweku Yorke, Head of Research at the Ghana Meteorological Agency, in his presentation, said some parts of the country were expected to have above average rainfall from April to June, especially over Southern Ghana, and called on farmers to take serious note of weather forecasts.

He said rainfall was expected to reduce from June and July in the country this year, and urged farmers in the region to harvest water for use in anticipation of prolonged dry spells in the months of June and July.