Rampant bush fires threaten food Security in Eastern region

Rampant bushfire incidents being recorded in many parts of the Eastern Region threaten food security.

The bushfires have devastated hundreds of hectares of farmlands with tons of food and cash crops such as cassava, yam, plantain, pear, cocoyam and cocoa destroyed.

On February 17, 2020, for instance, a 45 year old farmer-Kofi Osei and her wife at Maame Krobo lost two-acre yam farm to a bush fire which occurred around 10:pm Similarly, on February 14, 2020, Richard Kofi, a farmer in Agyata lost a 4-acre maize farm estimated to be 20 bags, to a bushfire blaze. Again, on February 15, 2020, bushfire roasted 600 tubers of harvested yam belonging to Augustine Atta, a farmer at Nfante, according to Stephen Afram -the Afram Plains District Director of National Disaster Management Organization.

In Fanteakwa South District, a 3-acre farms with crops such as cocoa, cassava and plantain belonging to Opanyin Emmanuel Kwasi Aning were also burnt on February 13, 2020.

Reports by Ayensuano District NADMO officials suggest similar devastating bushfire incidents. The latest incident occurred on February 21, 2020 when a total of 20-acre farms mostly cocoa farms belonging to three farmers-Opanyin Philip Yeboah, Yaw Awuku and Kwabena Gin, were completely burnt at Duodukrom.

Meanwhile, on February 11, 2020, a total of 110 acres of farms were burnt in communities such as Mamakrom, Akotuakrom, Krabokese, Teacher Mante, Asuboi, Amanase, Ayeh Kokooso, Anum Aboabo and Yakoko. Crops including maize, cocoa, cassava, plantain were burnt in the same district.

The situation is not different in Upper Manya Krobo where many farms have been destroyed by bushfire. The latest incident occurred on February 14, 2020, when a 4 acre maize farm belonging to Tokoli Longmanor Tetteh was completely burnt into ashes.

At Atewa West District, a total of 15 acres of cocoa farms were ravaged by bushfire on February 13, 2020.

The above incidents represent a small fraction of reported and non-reported cases of bushfire incidents that have occurred across the region afflicting hardship and creating anxiety among the affected farmers. The rampant bushfires have also led to death and injuries in few districts.

The Eastern Regional Director of the National Disaster Organization, NADMO, Kwame Appiah Kodua, has meanwhile directed Municipal and District Directors of the organization to intensify public education on the menace.

Most of the bushfire incidents are reported to have been caused by herdsmen who deliberately set fire into to bushes ostensibly to get enough sprouting grasses after the rains to graze their animals.

An agriculture expert, Gabriel Adukpo, told Kasapa FM, bushfire has serious consequences on food security, therefore, called on the security agencies to enforce the PNDC Act on bushfire, arrest and prosecute offenders to serve as a deterrent.