A total of 60 peasant farmers in the Hohoe Municipality have received relief support following the devastating impact of drought on their crops in 2024. The intervention was made possible through a collaboration between the African Risk Capacity (ARC), the Government of Ghana, and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
The assistance package, which included bags of maize and cartons of cooking oil, is intended to help ease the food insecurity challenges faced by the affected farmers. The drought significantly disrupted farming activities in the area, leaving many households struggling to meet their basic needs.
Speaking during the distribution exercise, Raphael Kumagah, Hohoe Municipal Director of NADMO, noted that the support would go a long way in cushioning the beneficiaries as they recover from last year’s losses. He expressed appreciation to ARC, the government, and the area’s Member of Parliament for their timely intervention and commitment to supporting vulnerable farmers.
Sandra Ofori, Hohoe Municipal Director of the Department of Agriculture, urged farmers to pay close attention to changing weather conditions and adhere to advisories issued by the Ghana Meteorological Agency. According to her, staying informed would help farmers make better decisions and reduce the risk of total crop failure.
She further disclosed plans by the Department of Agriculture to develop tailored crop calendars for farming communities within the municipality. These calendars, she explained, would guide farmers on the appropriate planting periods and farming practices to mitigate the effects of erratic weather patterns.
Freeman Aflah, Hohoe Municipal Deputy Director in charge of Technical Operations at NADMO, also called on farmers to adopt preventive measures against bushfires. He emphasised the need for collective responsibility in safeguarding farms, noting that many disasters are often the result of human activities that can be avoided.
One of the beneficiaries, Anthony Baaku from Alavanyo, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the donors. He remarked that the support had reassured affected farmers that they had not been abandoned in the aftermath of the drought.
The intervention highlights ongoing efforts by stakeholders to build resilience among smallholder farmers and strengthen disaster preparedness in vulnerable communities across the country.
By: Daniel Orlando/newsalertgh.com
