The Minister of Food and Agriculture has disclosed that Ghanaian farmers are facing an estimated GH¢3.5 billion in lost investment and GH¢10.4 billion in lost income.
The National Climate Change Conference has called on the Ghanaian government to urgently develop a national agro-ecological policy to promote permaculture.
The call comes amid growing concerns over food security following the devastating disaster that befell Ghana in the 2024 farming season.
The drought, described as the worst since 1982/83, has affected many parts of the Northern, North-Eastern, Upper West, Upper East, Bono, Bono East and Oti regions, with 62% of the region under basic construction. food
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Despite early predictions of drought by the Ghana Meteorological Service (GMET) during the summer months, the situation has turned into a long-term crisis affecting farmers to lose a lot.
In August 2024, the country’s Minister of Food and Agriculture announced that farmers face an estimated R3.5 billion in lost investment and R10.4 billion in lost income.
In response, the government announced a $500 million package to support affected farmers, while banning the export of major grains including maize, wheat and soybeans.
But at the end of the meeting, participants questioned the transparency and accountability of the distribution of this money, as the government aims to give community farms £1,000 ($64) per hectare.
As Ghana grapples with the impacts of the 2024 drought, they say promoting agroecology could provide a pathway to food security and environmental safety.
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The Global Climate Summit was hosted by ActionAid Ghana, with the theme: “Economic transition away from fossil fuels and agricultural economies to support food security through agroecology and indigenous seed production.”
Meanwhile, ActionAid’s 2024 flagship report, Flow of Funds: Public Finance Markets for Electricity in the Global South, was published, highlighting the equitable impact on climate in developing countries like Ghana.
The conference brought together key stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, the private sector and the community to discuss and develop a strategy for reversing the financial flight from environmentally damaging investments such as fossil fuel investment and agriculture.
It advocates sustainable changes that support climate protection and food security, including agroecology and indigenous seed production.
Communiqué No. called on participants, national institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, to develop a national agroecological policy to support organic farming and promote vegetable management in rice.
Participants noted that a deeper and broader understanding of agroecological practices is also important for conserving biodiversity and improving food security.
Their concerns are driven by the need for the government to shift its focus from agriculture to farming, which could improve biodiversity and ameliorate climate change.
Participants also called for more research, development and investment in permaculture, encouraging institutions such as the University of Development Studies (UDS) and the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) to train agroecology professionals.
Participants also called on governments and international partners to invest in green livelihoods for women and youth and to help them recover from environmental violence such as mines and fires.
Call to Action is based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically the targets to eradicate poverty, reduce hunger, promote sustainable communities and combat climate change.
