By Daniel Agbesi Latsu, GNA
Kadjebi (O/R), March 10, GNA – Farmers in the Kadjebi District of the Oti Region have complained about delayed rainfall during the major farming season, raising fears about possible effects on crop production and livelihoods.
They said the rains, which are usually expected to begin heavily in March, had not yet arrived, leaving many of them uncertain about when to begin planting.
Mr Frank Agyemang, maize farmer based at Butabe, a farming community in the Kadjebi District, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), in an interview, that the situation had created anxiety among farmers who rely largely on rainfall to begin land preparation and planting.
He said a number of farmers had already cleared and prepared their lands in anticipation of the rains but were now compelled to wait, fearing that any prolonged delay could reduce yields for the season.
“We usually start planting around this time when the rains become consistent, but this year the rains have not come as expected,” Mr Agyemang said.
“If the rains delay further, it could affect our production and income,” he added.
Mr Agyemang appealed to the relevant authorities and agricultural extension officers to intensify education on climate-smart farming practices and advise farmers on the best steps to take should the rains continue to delay.
Ms Delight Agbemor, another farmer at Dodi-Akum, also told GNA that the unpredictable rainfall pattern had made planning difficult for farmers in the area.
She noted that some farmers were hesitant to plant early crops because they feared the seeds might dry up in the soil if the rains still did not come.
“In the past, by this time we would have had several rains to begin planting maize and other crops, but now we are still waiting,” she said, adding, “we are worried because our farming activities depend mainly on rainfall.”
Ms Agbemor said delays in the onset of the rains could also affect the cultivation of crops such as cassava, yam and vegetables, which form an important part of food production in the district.
Some farmers in the area also expressed concern that the changing rainfall pattern could negatively affect food production and household incomes if the situation persisted.
They said many smallholder farmers lacked irrigation facilities and depended entirely on rainfall for their farming activities.
The farmers, therefore, urged the government of Ghana and stakeholders in the agriculture sector to support them with climate-resilient farming methods, improved seed varieties and irrigation support to help mitigate the impact of erratic weather patterns.
Agricultural experts have in recent years cautioned that climate variability could lead to irregular rainfall patterns in parts of the country, making it necessary for farmers to adopt adaptive farming practices.
The farmers, however, remained hopeful that the rains would soon set in to enable them to begin planting.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah