Climate change is creating the ideal conditions for global food security. Rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns and changing seasons are disturbing the fragile balance of our food supply, jeopardizing the basic foundation of human existence.
Climate change has its impact on the food produced by farmers, which has led to the shortage, and high cost of foodstuffs. Farmers and food vendors in Ghana have complained severally yet the government has not come to their aid. Speaking to Mr. Kofi Baidoo, he expressed his concerns about how climate change has affected the production of some crops. He said due to the weather changes some crops like maize which does not need excess water have been affected by the recent downpour of rains, which in many cases has uprooted the seedlings which have been planted recently.
He added that in order to adapt to the change he tends to plant other seedlings that need excess water to help in the growing of the crops. According to him before the recent change in the climate, they were no longer able to produce the 50 to 100 bags of maize they used to produce, however, he wish that something could be done to help them because they are suffering.
The change in the climate has not just affected farmers but food suppliers also have their own problems they face, Mr. John Owusu, a plantain supplier also shared the challenges he faces in supplying plantain to his customers. He said during the dry seasons there is a shortage of the plantain he gives out to his customers, therefore he has to change his supply of plantain to yams but some vendors who are consistent sellers of the plantain still opt for the plantain in order to get for them the prices increase.
He continued to say that they however do not face this issue during the rainy season because during that time there is abundant of food to supply, he said that during these times they can supply 3 to 4 cars of foodstuffs to the customers because there is abundance. The change in the climate has both good and bad effects as in sometimes there is abundance and sometimes there is a shortage.
Foodstuffs vendors also share their woes due to the unexpected change in the weather pattern. According to these sellers, they said the dry season caused a shortage of food crops such as Tomatoes, and Cassava due to the hardened grounds which makes it difficult for farmers to uproot these foods which eventually shoots up the price of the foods. She added that, in the rainy season coco leaves and plantain, red pepper comes in abundance, which makes the price of these foodstuffs normal.
Adding to that some fruit sellers who have been affected by the change in climate also shared their concerns in the selling of their preferred fruits, according to them during the dry season, there is more of the local Agric orange to sell which most people do not like, unlike the local oranges they get during the rainy season.
To mitigate the impact of climate change on crop production in Ghana, local farmers must end their dependence on rain-fed agriculture. In addition, to curb the drastic change in the climate individuals can rectify their mistakes in choosing the right paths, which favour the climate. Sustainable farming practices such as irrigation and crop diversification should be adopted to ensure a stable food supply in the country.
Stilson Robert
Unimac-IJ (Faculty of Journalism)
Stilsonrobert6@gmail.com
