Farmers urged to adapt to climate change
The Tano-South District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr Godfred Dwamena, has advised Ghanaian farmers to diversify their operations to survive the current climatic changes.
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He said irregular rainfall patterns and excessive sunshine due to the depletion of the ozone layer had made crop production quite frustrating, because of its attendant negative economic effects.
It is, therefore, imperative and more profitable for farmers to practise other methods like mixed farming, agroforestry and non-traditional animal husbandry like beekeeping, and grasscutter rearing, as well as mushroom production.
Mr Dwamena was addressing a one-day training workshop, held at Bechem, for some selected farmers from the Tano–South District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
He said to ensure sustainable economic activities and improved living standards throughout the year, it was needful for farmers to go into these agricultural practices.
The workshop, organised by Save our Environment Foundation (SEF), an environmental non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with MOFA, brought together about 130 participants from Old and New Brosankro and Kwasu communities in the district.
According to the Executive Director of SEF, Mr Collins Osei, the programme was aimed at creating a thriving socioecological production landscape where local communities would be actively involved in the sustainable management and utilisation of the natural resources in the area.
He said the three selected communities were known to be rich in diverse flora and fauna, with sacred groves protecting watersheds.
However, in recent times the landscape is faced with severe extinction as a result of overexploitation of natural resources like timber, fuel wood, non-timber forest products and poor agricultural practices.
Mr Osei said to address the situation, there was the need for improved farming methods, sustainable socio-economic well-being through increased crop production and diverse agricultural practices, hence the programme.
Messrs Isaac Adjei Mensah and Ernest Osei Asante from MOFA and Forestry Commission respectively took turns to speak extensively on topics like Mixed Farming and Agroforestry.