By Nastain Ibn Saliu
Kete-Krachi (O/R,) Nov 18, GNA – Mr. Frank Aboni, Oti Regional Crop officer, has observed that the early cessation of rains has an adverse effect on Crops.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the Crop officer explained that the region had experienced about six-weeks of drought leading to late planting.
“Farmers who planted around September are the most affected,” he said.
Mr Aboni mentioned cereals, especially maize and rice, as the most affected Crops in the area.
He said having visited some farming communities in the Krachi West Municipality of the Oti Region observed that maize and other crops were withering.
“And when you get to the rice fields, the investment there has been wasted,” he noted.
He continued that, farmers, who cultivated pepper, groundnut, vegetables among other crops in the area, were not left out by the drought.
Mr Aboni told the GNA that the situation stemmed from the ravages of climate change and blamed it on human activities such as cutting down trees, burning of charcoal among others.
He said this phenomenon will continue to aggravate the situation if the perpetrators of these acts continued these negative practices.
He, however, encouraged farmers to grow more tree crops like mangoes, cashews, oranges and others to replace the destroyed ones in the forest.
To curtail the hurdles brought by the drought, the Crop officer has advised farmers in the area to diversify their farming activities.
He, however, urged farmers in the area to also invest in irrigation farming, to help address the hurdles of drought seasons for safe cultivation.
GNA