Climate change networking necessary for Africa - NGO

Madam Jasqueline Nnam, Knowledge Sharing Officer of Africa Adapt (AA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has called on stakeholders to come together to share ideas on climate change to reduce its havoc on the people.

Madam Nnam made the call at a “Meet and Greet”, an interactive forum for knowledge sharing with NGOs, farmers and researchers to promote climate change networking in Ghana organised by AA.

She said the programme was also to promote networking among climate change practitioners on rain water harvesting, facility and soil formations and flood conditions.

Dr Dilys MacCarthy, a scientist at the Soil and Irrigation Research Centre of the University of Ghana, noted that water catchment and storage systems are important to farmers.

She said most farmers in Ghana rely on rainfall for water and that the pattern and quantities are becoming irregular, hence the need for them to learn technologies and practices which can be used in adaptation to climate change.

Dr Ramadjita Tabo, Deputy Executive Director of Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, the lead technical agency for implementing the agricultural research programme of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), emphasised the reality of climate change and its negative impact.

He cited the recent heavy rains in Ghana that caused flooding resulting in the loss of lives and property.

Dr Tabo underscored the need for Africa to adequately prepare itself against such negative impacts of climate change.

Mr Lovans Owusu-Takyi, Executive Director of Youth Volunteers for the Environment in Ghana, an NGO said knowledge sharing workshops are important initiatives to educate farmers and NGOs on the impact of climate change and to promote guidance on adaptation strategies.

He said the most vulnerable were the youth in agriculture who are the largest contributors in food security and the nation’s gross domestic product.

Mr Owusu-Takyi said over flooding of crop farms, low soil fertility and crop yield and conflicts over land were hampering the development of small-scale farming and a threat to peace in Ghana.

He said sustainable technologies, such as agro-forestry, farm diversification, knowledge on weather patterns and irrigation systems were the best that farmers could adapt to impact positively on climate change.