Climate change responsible for chronic drought situation, not irrigation - Bryan Acheampong

Agriculture minister Bryan Acheampong has blamed the country's chronic drought situation on climate change, emphasizing that the root cause is not irrigation but altering weather patterns.  

Speaking with Joy News' PM Express Business Edition, he claimed the Ghana Meteorological Agency had warned the government that the planting season had shifted by an entire month, a key change that farmers were not informed about. 

“This shift in the planting season, which is a fundamental change caused by climate change, disrupted our agricultural planning,” Acheampong stated. 

“We invested heavily in inputs, training, land development, seeds, and fertilizers, but with this change, all our efforts were compromised,” the minister is quoted as saying by myjoyonline.com. 

The Abetifi MP stated that, while climate change cannot be avoided, efforts to protect Ghana's food systems must be implemented.

He mentioned irrigation as one such measure that allows for year-round agriculture without relying on rainfall.

But, Dr. Acheampong noted that constructing irrigation systems required major investment and differs significantly from the modest earth dams erected under the government's "One District, One Dam" plan.  

The Minister emphasised the government's efforts to extend irrigation projects around the country, citing ongoing initiatives in the Afram Plains, Tono, and Upper West regions, where 19 modest irrigation projects are now underway. 

Bryan Acheampong also mentioned that 15 projects are now underway in the Northern Region focused on building tiny earth dams or dugouts to gather rainwater for agricultural and animal purposes.

 He emphasized that these dams, which were built to hold rainwater during the rainy season, have mainly succeeded in meeting their original goals, such as providing water for households, livestock, and small-scale agriculture. 

 Acheampong defended the initiatives' effectiveness, despite questions about their size and scope.   

He concluded that, while the government is dedicated to expanding irrigation, dealing with the larger effects of climate change on agriculture is an urgent challenge that necessitates thorough planning and ongoing adaptation. 

KA