Northern Region: Over 75 percent of farmers in the Northern Region rely on rain-fed agriculture, according to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA). Yet, data from Ghana's Meteorological Agency shows a troubling trend, which indicates the region's average annual rainfall has declined by 20 percent since 2000, with droughts becoming more frequent and severe. This growing climate crisis threatens both national and regional food security and pushes countless farming communities to the brink of collapse.According to Ghana News Agency, in 1983, a severe dry spell, coupled with devastating bushfires, resulted in one of Ghana's most severe famines, reducing rainfall patterns to critical levels. Many regions recorded the lowest average rainfall, with some areas dropping as low as 50 percent. This resulted in severe crop losses, food scarcity, and widespread malnutrition, affecting approximately 12 percent of the country's population. In 2020, a similar dry spell in both major and minor seasons in southern par ts of the country affected key agricultural areas including Afram Plain, Kintampo, and Ejura Sekyere - Odumasi, resulting in the national average maize yield dropping from 3.8 metric tonnes per hectare in 2019 to 3.3 metric tonnes per hectare in 2020.The Northern Regional Department of MOFA in the 2024 farming season reported that an estimated 460,784 hectares, representing 60 percent of the region's cultivated land, were affected by the dry spell. The worst-hit areas included Savelugu, Mion, Gushegu, Nanumba North, Karaga, and Yendi, with key staple crops such as cowpea, maize, rice, soybean, millet, groundnut, and yam severely impacted. While a dry spell is commonly known as a prolonged period of unusually low rainfall, its devastating impacts on livelihoods cannot be overstated. MOFA recorded farmer investment losses of approximately GHC 3.5 billion across eight regions in the country, including the Northern Region.Personal stories from farmers like Bright Sanja, a 35-year-old smallholder farmer in Gus hegu, highlight the crisis's human toll. Sanja lost his entire 30-acre groundnut farm and now struggles to feed his family of six and pay school fees. He shared that simple irrigation technologies could have helped salvage his predicament. Mahamudu Hafiz, a farmer in Yendi Municipality, recounted how water scarcity weakened his livestock, making them vulnerable to diseases. Hussein Ziberu, a pastoralist, expressed similar struggles, losing multiple livestock and facing harsh conditions that forced migration and conflicts.Experts argue that investing in irrigation technology could transform agriculture in the Northern Region, helping farmers adapt to climate change and secure their livelihoods. Simple irrigation technologies, including drip irrigation, mulch basin irrigation, and furrow irrigation, are recommended. Success stories from India, Niger, and Bangladesh demonstrate how irrigation technology can significantly enhance crop yields and resilience to climate extremes.Dr. Charles Nilimor of CSIR-SARI emphasized the transformative potential of these technologies for Ghana. Professor Franklin Nantui Mabe from the University for Development Studies advocates for a holistic approach, including farmer training, capacity-building programs, and the adoption of mobile apps for agricultural advisory and weather forecasting.The dry spell crisis in the Northern Region and the country as a whole is a long-term threat to food security and rural livelihoods. By investing in irrigation technology, training farmers, and fostering research and innovation, Ghana could protect its agricultural future and empower communities to thrive despite climate change.
Wednesday, January 21, 2026