Garu-Tempane farmers schooled on climate change

Farmers in the Garu-Tempane district of the Upper East Region have been educated on climatic and weather conditions to enable them make informed decisions relevant for crops, livestock and livelihood options.

The education was at a workshop, facilitated by the Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture project (PICSA) under the Presbyterian Agricultural Station (PAS) in Garu.

They discussed climatic conditions that pertain in the area long before the farming season, just before, during and after the season, so as to enable the farmers make subjective decisions on which crop to produce at a particular season.

The project is targeting 200 farmers, and designed to provide a structure to assist farmers carry out resource allocation, season calendar, historical records, weather forecast, livelihoods options, decision making, and participatory crop budgeting.

Mr Obed Asunka, Project Officer for PAS and Coordinator for the PICSA project, disclosed that steps required for location specific information would be provided by the Ghana Meteological Services, to assist farmers with the needed weather information (Gmet) for farming.

Mr Asunka said the 25 participants drawn from four communities, including Kpatia, Biamboogo, Tensong and Ghanterago, would be expected to disseminate the knowledge acquired at the workshop to other farmers in their various communities.

He noted that the project sought to support farmers to draw their resources allocations, and expose them to historical information on the weather, such as rainfall minimum and maximum rates.

Mr Asunka hinted that the project was being piloted in four communities and 60 farmers were expected to benefit in this year.

He explained that when the pilot programme turned out successful and the full programme took off, it would reduce poverty and promote quality livelihood for people in the area.

Mr Asunka urged farmers to take the training seriously, in order to learn new farming methods for improved productivity.