Agriculture Minister, Honourable Bryan Acheampong has asserted that, Ghana`s food crisis has been a menace caused by climate change.
The Minister for Ghana`s Agricultural sector has claimed that the current drought situation in Ghana is the main cause accounting to the food crisis. Hon. Brayan further emphasized on the fact that real deal was not irrigation but the turn in the weather patterns of Ghana.
According to Brayan Acheampong as he was on a one-on-one interview on Joy News’, PM Express Business Edition iterated that, the Ghana Meteorological Agency had informed government that the planting season had been changed for a whole month however, this significant new development was not communicated to the farmers.
“This shift in the planting season, which is a fundamental change caused by climate change, disrupted our agricultural planning. We invested heavily in inputs, training, land developments, seeds and fertilizers, but with this change, all our efforts were compromised,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Agric Minister agreed to the fact that, in as much as climate change is a natural phenomenon which can not be prevented, government can utilise the alternative measure which is investing in irrigation to enable the planting of crops all year round. Mr Brayan Acheampong further detailed that, the creation of irrigation systems demands huge investment and they are widely apart from the government policy`s “One District, One Dam”.
Hon. Brayan Acheampong added that “we must always measure an initiative against its intended purpose”.
“Government has decided to provide financial support amounting to GHs1000 per hectare to the most vulnerable among these farmers as partial cover for their investments losses,” Hon. Brayan Acheampong said as he highlighted the financial support government intends to provide for farmers.