US government provides $3 million to support farmers affected by recent dry spell

The Government of the United States (US) through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has voted $3 million to support farmers affected by the recent dry spell and improve healthcare delivery in northern Ghana.

Out of $3 million, $1.7 million would be used to support smallholder farmers impacted by the drought to recover from the devasting losses while the remaining $1.3 million would be used to improve nutrition, maternal and child health services, early childhood development, and social protection.

The grant has been disbursed under the Feed the Future Resilience in Northern Ghana Systems Strengthening Activity for 23 selected Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to work in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Ghana Health Service.

As part of the support, more than 10,000 farmers would be trained in climate-smart agriculture including dry season farming, provide them with inputs and technical support.

Access to nutrition 

Announcing the grant in Tamale, the Nutrition and Social Protection Lead at USAID Ghana, Maureen Malave said the intervention was an important step in ensuring that communities not only have access to nutritious food but also good health and social services.

She indicated that livestock farming would be introduced with a focus on guinea fowls, roosters and rabbits as supplemental livelihood sources.

Beyond that she said the farmers would be linked to grain dealers to ensure that excess grains can be transported to areas experiencing food shortage, thereby enhancing food security in the north.

“The United States believes that support in times of crisis is not just about offering immediate relief, it is about building long-term resilience.
By improving agricultural practices, diversifying livelihoods and improving the ability to respond to climate shocks, we can ensure vulnerable populations have access to the nutrition they need, the economic opportunities to thrive and the means to withstand future challenges” Ms Malave added.

Build back stronger 

For her part, the Director of Women in Agricultural Development Directorate (WIAD) at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Paulina Addy said the intervention would help victims of the dry spell build back better and boost food production.

She emphasised the need to adopt innovative solutions that would withstand the shocks of climate change and mitigate the impact on agriculture. 

Commendation 

The Northern Regional Minister, Shani Alhassan Shaibu, lauded the US government for the support and appealed to the awardees to use the funds strictly for the purposes for which the funds have been given. 

“Prudent and judicious use of the funds is required by the Government and the people of Ghana as well as the Government and People of the United States of America (USA).

The program has its activities and expected outcomes, our focus should be on ensuring that at the end of the program period, the expected results and outcomes are achieved, and the evidence of those achievements should be there for all to see” he said.

He further entreated all the value chain actors of the programme to put in strategies and measures to ensure that gains made would be sustained to benefit future generations.

Writer’s email:mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh