Why there is severe drought in Northern Ghana and a ban on grain export

The lack of rainfall in the Northern parts of the country for over two months has resulted in severe drought, affecting farmers and crops. This has sparked widespread concerns about food security and the livelihood of thousands of farmers.

This is not the first time the country has experienced drought. Between 1982 and 1983, the country suffered a national drought and desertification with devastating effects on the economy and the people.

The country then initiated steps to combat another occurrence in the future.

Why there is a drought

The Northern parts of Ghana experience one rainfall peak which happens between June to September. The lack of rainfall for over two months has resulted in near drought conditions, increasing the risk of crop failure for farmers.

Damages recorded so far

According to data from the Minister of Food and Agriculture, an affected number of 435,872 farmers cultivating an estimated area of 871,745 hectares have been negatively impacted.

Major crops including maize, rice, groundnut soyabean, sorghum, millet and yam were the most widely affected crops across these regions.

Additionally, farmers have recorded losses estimated at GH¢3.5 billion with a potential revenue loss of GH¢10.4 billion.

The northern part of the country accounts for about 62% of the country’s annual grain production. Around 1.8 million hectares (4.45 million acres) of land are at risk.

Ban on grain exportation

As part of measures to mitigate the effects of the drought and to contain the situation, the Minister of Agriculture Bryan Acheampong announced a temporary ban with immediate effect on the export of grains including maize, rice and soybean.

According to Bryan Acheampong, this measure is intended to ensure domestic supply and avert potential food crises in the wake of the drought.

“We are forecasting a significant shortfall in grain availability,” Bryan Acheampong stated during a press briefing on August 26, 2024.

“Without any interventions, this could lead to a nationwide food shortage,” he added.

What happens to affected farmers

Minister of Finance Mohammed Amin Adam said the government plans to raise $500 million, part of which will be used to compensate affected farmers.

Additionally, farmers will receive payments of GH¢1,000 ($64) per hectare to help cushion them from their losses.

Possible effects of the drought on the economy

Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam disclosed the effects the ongoing drought poses to the country’s economic trajectory.

According to him, the drought will force the increment of limited food crops in the market.

“Investments have been lost, and even with the rains that we’re experiencing now, the rains may not be enough to the support maturity of crops. Usually, in the Northern part of Ghana, by this time, new maize is on the market. If we go to the markets in Tamale, you will not find a bag of maize, prices are also going up.

“And so, for those of us in charge of the management of the economy, we’re directly affected from different perspectives. Number one: Our focus as a government [after] having stabilised the economy, and we’re seeing the micro fundamentals improving day by day. We decided that we would focus on economic growth and we saw the numbers.

“Last year, [2023] ending [we had] 2.9% economic growth, the first quarter of this year, achieving 4.7% growth. We were expecting that this trend will continue till the end of the year. But we realised that one of our growth poles, if you like one of the major contributors to our growth, which is agriculture is now facing challenges.

“It simply means that our economic growth trajectory is in danger, our economic growth is in danger. We also look at it from the perspective of pricing, we have seen it for some time now that inflation [is] going down from about 54% inflation by the end of 2022 to about 20% inflation in June this year [2024],” the minister explained.

The latest move by Ghana follows countries like Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire to restrict grain exports this year as part of efforts to improve food security.

MAG/MA