[ 2013-04-15 ]

Garu farmers deliberate on averting disasters with the coming rains
Farmers, assembly members and chiefs in the Garu
Tempane District in the Upper West region have
held a meeting to discuss various strategies to
mitigate the effects of the coming rains.

The two day meeting which ended on Friday 12th
April, was held to discuss the difficulties and
challenges that could occur should there be long
dry spells, floods or strong winds.

The two-day meeting dubbed "Participatory Scenario
Planning" was organised by the Adaptation Learning
Programme (ALP) of Care International and
participants included farmers, assembly members
and chiefs from surrounding communities.

Participants at the meeting deliberated on Ghana
Meteorological Service’s seasonal forecast for
the year and shared their knowledge on their
weather predictions using indigenous knowledge and
beliefs.

Based on such beliefs, some participants said
there could be heavy rains and strong winds for
the season due to the strength of whirlwinds in
the past dry season, existing high temperatures,
the unusual croaking of toads and the high yields
of the Shea nut tree.

The participants, based on their conclusions,
agreed to acquire early maturing maize seeds for
sowing as the dry spells could begin August.

Mr Charles Yorke, Director of Research, Ghana
Meteorological Service, agreed with the
participants that there would be moderate to heavy
rains in the area with dry spells from May to
August adding that the rains could cease by
October.

Participants at the event also discussed important
livelihood activities in their communities like
crop farming, dry season farming, poultry,
livestock rearing, water and sanitation, health
facilities, educational infrastructure among
others, and reached various conclusions on how to
address any challenge that would occur should the
weather affect them.

Mr Romanus Gyang, Manager of ALP, said the
programme had for past three years been working
with the communities in the area to strengthen
their capacity and empower them to stay alert and
prepared for any weather condition.

He called on the districts and municipal
assemblies to include the effects of climate
change in their budgets and development plans.

Mr David Adakudugu, District Chief Executive of
the Garu-Tempane, said the assembly was committed
to ensuring the sustainability of ALP activities
and would assist the people in their effort to
meet the challenges of climate change.

He commended ALP for its good work saying
“it’s impact is being felt in the district”.

Source - GNA

... go Back