Accra, Ghana - Amidst the harsh realities of climate change, Ghanaian farmers are finding hope and sustainability in innovative agricultural practices. Suleman Abdullah, a 60-year-old farmer from Saboba, and Madam Kanade Mahama are among those who have turned the tide on the adverse effects of climate change on their livelihoods.
According to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) , Suleman Abdullah witnessed a drastic 60 percent drop in maize yields due to dry spells and floods. However, his switch to dry season vegetable farming, focusing on jute leaves (ayoyo), has brought significant relief. This change has enabled him to purchase maize to sustain his family, marking a positive turn in his farming career.
Similarly, Madam Mahama, who lost her produce to floods, has transitioned to being a full-time vegetable farmer and trader. This shift not only improved her financial stability but also enhanced the health of her family through increased vegetable consumption.
These stories of resilience are set against a backdrop of challenging climate conditions in Ghana, where the World Bank Group's 2022 Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) projects a potential 40 percent income reduction for poor households by 2050 due to climate impacts. However, Suleman, Kande, and over 720 other beneficiaries from 46 communities in five districts of the northern region are thriving, thanks to the inclusive growth and employment component of the Empowerment for Life (E4L) Programme.
Implemented by Changing Life in Innovative Partnerships (CLIP) and funded by Civil Society in Development (CISU) through Ghana Friends, both in Denmark, the E4L Programme offers a lifeline to these farmers. It includes various models to build resilience against changing weather conditions, such as the support of a water source in the Sanguli community for year-round vegetable farming and establishing cage fish farms.
Dr. Antwi Boasiako Amoah, Acting Director of Climate Vulnerabilities and Adaptation at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), highlights the considerable climatic changes in Ghana's northern ecological zone, emphasizing the unpredictability of temperature rises and rainfall patterns.
The intervention also addresses the critical need for local vulnerability and needs assessment of changing weather conditions, as articulated by Dr. Amoah. With the climate crisis likely to push at least one million more Ghanaians into poverty if urgent actions are not taken, the World Bank report advocates for integrated agriculture and environmental management.
Mr. Abdallah Mohammed, Technical Advisor for Food Security, Livelihoods, and Business Development for CLIP, explains the comprehensive approach taken by the project, from vulnerability assessment to implementing various models like honey production and the provision of ruminants for integrated farming systems.
The E4L Programme also introduced the Village Savings and Loans scheme, assisting groups in economic ventures and providing support during challenging times, such as droughts or floods. Additionally, youth environmental brigades were formed to carry out community sensitization on climate change and support tree planting initiatives, aligning with the Ghana government's Green Ghana Project.
Mr. Daniel Kwame Debrah, Research Forester and Coordinator of the GLFx Bawku chapter, emphasizes the importance of such initiatives and advocates for the co-creation of climate-smart technology that incorporates indigenous agricultural knowledge.
These efforts represent a collective response to the pressing climate challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Ghana, offering hope and sustainable solutions in an era of environmental uncertainty.