Farmers in Upper East Region not happy about onset of rains

Bolgatanga, July 18, GNA - Despite the onset of heavy downpour in Upper East Region for the past few days, farmers are not happy for the delay of the rains.

Many farmers interviewed by Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, expressed dismay about the drought for the past one and half months that had adversely affected their crops.

"The rains which have started now would not be beneficial to use because our crops had already been destroyed," they complained. They said the drought had destroyed early millet and other crops planted and the only hope was the late millet and guinea corn planted. Groundnuts, usually cultivated in June, early July and end of September, were not done due to the long drought period. Some groundnut farmers are now preparing their land for planting, others have decided not to cultivate the crop because the period for planting had elapsed and would therefore not risk.

"I would not risk to throw my seeds away knowing that I would not harvest anything," a farmer remarked.

During a tour of some farms by the GNA most of the groundnut farmers were busily planting while others were preparing their land to plant.

Most farmers and opinion leaders told GNA that the region faced severe hunger and appealed to Government and stakeholders to intervene to tackle the issue. 18 July 07