Promoting Food Security in the Midst of Post-Harvest Losses

GLOBAL FOOD security is one of the most pressing societal issues of our time. It is presently estimated that more than one billion people, or one out of every seven people on the planet earth, is hungry or malnourished. Even more troubling is the fact that thousands die daily as a result of diseases from which they likely would have survived, had they received adequate food and nutrition. For now, it is estimated that between 30% and 50% representing 1.2 to 2 billion tonnes of food produced around the world go wasted due to several factors. 

Currently, there are grave concerns about the coming global food crisis. According to Agricultural Scientists, global food production must increase by 70 to 100% by the year 2050 to adequately meet global food demand. So how is it to be done or achieved? 

In order to avoid the unpleasant consequences of unprecedented widespread hunger and starvation in the years or decades to come, there should be serious and unwavering commitment from political, educational, and religious leaders to ensure massive agricultural transformation or food production. 

A report filed by John Sparrow, a reporter for Allafrica.com on 14th of March 2013 shows that, innocent children are wasting away in Southern Malawi. Mothers are distraught and beg for emergency feeding. The figures are soaring, already 50 per cent higher than those of a year ago due to the depletion of food stocks, the damage done to crops, seed supplies, livestock, the economic fabric and local markets.

Food Insecurity in Ghana

Statistics by the Agricultural Development Unit of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and World Food Programme (WFP) have indicated that about 1.2 million people, representing five percent (5%) of Ghana’s population, are food insecure.  Thirty four percent (34%) of the population are in Upper West region, followed by Upper East with 15% and Northern region with 10%, amounting to approximately 453,000 people. 

About 507,000 (40%) people are vulnerable of becoming food insecure in the rural areas of Upper West, Upper East and Northern regions. Up to 1.5 million people vulnerable to food insecurity live in the rural and urban areas of the remaining seven regions, with the largest share of them in Brong-Ahafo (11%), in Ashanti (10%), followed by Eastern (8%) and the Volta region (7%).

The Upper East Region is the worst affected as it experiences the longest food shortage period of 6 months annually. The Northern and Upper West regions record 5 months of food inadequacy. As indicated above, farmers are not able to produce enough to last throughout the year and also unable to store enough produce for home consumption throughout the year. The crucial question is: how are they able to survive?

The simple answer is that the farmers sustain their household food security by patronizing less expensive and less preferred foods, borrowing food or money to buy, purchasing food on credit, seeking assistance from friends and relatives and purchasing street food.

The Desire for Farming

Farmers in the three Northern Regions of Ghana are hard working and have natural love or passion for farming. Close to 75% of them are into small scale agricultural businesses as their main source of livelihood or survival. 

The farmers usually cultivate maize, groundnut, soybean, millet, sorghum, rice and yam among other ancestral or traditional crops and they as well rear/raise other domestic animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, fowls and fishes.  

Many areas of the Southern Ghana (comprising 7 different regions) which covers 60% of the country landmass enjoy two cropping each year whilst the Northern Ghana which covers up to 40% of the land area is mostly savannah where the dry season invariably affects productivity.

It has already been projected that high temperatures in Ghana will lead to low cereal yields throughout the country, especially maize and millet, which is a key staple crop in the north.

This fall or decline in cereal crop yield will mainly be due to a reduction in the growing period, and an increase in evaporation rates. Furthermore, roots and tubers such as cassava, yam and cocoyam – which are also key staples in the Ghanaian diet – will see a fall in its production as well.

According to researchers at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), production of cassava, for instance, is also expected to reduce by up to 53% by 2080, and cocoyam by 68%.

The north will be the region most severely affected, as it is the most vulnerable area in Ghana, in terms of agriculture, due to high climate conditions.

Some of the Northern farmers are not only being discouraged by the challenges confronting them but are also retiring from the farming business. 

Acknowledging the Challenges of Northern Farmers

Apart from the erratic rainfall pattern which compels majority of them to crop only ones in a season, the unfertile nature of the lands, the ever growing desertification and the emergence of climate change and post harvest losses are also some of the major challenges facing most of the farmers in the three Northern Regions.

Other challenges such as the severe annual floods and droughts, low soil fertility, coupled with chieftaincy conflicts leading to burning of farm crops, have cumulatively heightened the already existing vulnerabilities or poverty situation among the farmers in these regions.

They loose chunk of their produce every year to wildfires, stray cattle and thieves. This is as a result of the lack of combine harvesters, proper storage facilities, transport services and poor road networks in the region. It is estimated that over 60 to 70% of the farmers do not have access to tractor services or safer place to store their produce after harvest leading to loss of over 40% of their crop. Most of them are therefore compelled to store the crops right on the farms at the mercies of bushfires, animals and sometimes the rainy weather. 

Effects of Climate Change on Food Security

Over the past 10 years the Northern Region of Ghana has experienced a highly variable and unpredictable climate. Erosions are taking place on arable farm lands and in communities due to annual floods, strong winds and sand winning as well as illegal mining activities, which are posing serious threat to food productivity.

In the wake of inadequate trees, majority of the inhabitants are indiscriminately cutting down the few existing trees including shea nut trees for the purposes of charcoal burning and other domestic use.

 The region has started experiencing the phenomenon of low agricultural productivity and if nothing is done about it, food security would seriously be affected and the problem of malnutrition would be exacerbated. In the Gushegu District of the Northern Region for instance, three out of every 10 children are said to be malnourished according to Ghana Health Service report. Most farmers are still hooked to the use of low yielding and poor nutritional crops.

Introduction of Genetically Modified crops

Farmers in Ghana and especially those in the three Northern Regions have over the years experienced serious challenges in the course of feeding their households and the nation at large. The soils in the region have lost their nutrients or fertility long since and require the maximum use of fertilizers and other agrochemicals to produce results.

This comes at a high expensive cost to the farmers who are already classified as poor. That notwithstanding, the farmers are also compelled to look for alternative means of controlling weeds and pests to save their crops from going bad. 

However, there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel following the introduction of hybrid and genetically modified (GM) seeds into the system. Undeniably, the science of biotechnology, either through conventional breeding (often in conjunction with marker assisted selection) or genetic modification approaches has great potential to achieve biofortification for nutritional benefits in Ghana/Northern Region. There is an urgent need to solve the problem of micronutrient malnutrition that is prevalent among young children and women in Ghana and for that matter Northern Region. Genetically modified (GM) crops have great potential to resist drought, pests and diseases and also ensure high yields for maximum food security. 

Given the prevalence of micronutrient malnutrition among young children and women, the development of foods with enhanced nutrients is crucial in Northern Region. The technology advancement in this era and subsequent adoption of innovative tools has the potential to pave the way for better crop productivity and higher quality food at lower cost in order to solve the micronutrient problem in this region. 

In the advanced world, farmers are already growing thousands of hectares of GM crops including maize alongside conventional crops without any proven adverse effects. In the United States and parts of Europe, farmers are growing both the GM and the organic crops on the same land without any problems. 

Africa’s Climate and GM crops

A Science Lecturer at the Oxford University in the United Kingdom, Prof Chris Leaver says hybrid and GM crops are not automatically draught resistant and farmers could face challenges since draught is a major problem in Africa. 

However, he says there are several genes scientists are evaluating to come out with other varieties that would probably tolerate the dry weather in Africa and other parts of the world.

Prof Leaver therefore encouraged government of Ghana to take bold steps to provide adequate irrigation facilities especially the dry areas so that farmers can grow the high yielding GM crops to ensure food security.

Mr. Saeed Ali Yakubu, an Editor at the Multimedia Group of Companies also appreciated the introduction of the GM crops but cautioned that the necessary facilities and support ought to be provided for farmers.

He entreated government to provide access roads, irrigation systems, storage facilities and ready market for the farmers as they move from the conventional to genetic modification crops.

Agriculturist Propose Ways To Deal With Fulani Herdsmen

The Coordinator of the Northern Rural Growth Programme (NRGP), Mr. Roy Ayariga has called for “one stop shop national effort” to deal with the menace of the alien Fulani Herdsmen in the country to enhance National Food Security.

According to him, the nefarious activities of the Fulanis across Ghana and most especially the three Northern Regions were posing serious threats to national food security and the lives of most farmers especially the women. 

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle in Tamale, Mr. Ayariga indicated that there had been several instances where crops and other farm produce stored on farmlands as a result of labour constrains and the lack of storage facilities had been completely destroyed either by stray cattle or bushfires set up by the Fulanis.

These alien Fulanis are also alleged to be the brain behind major robberies, indiscriminate rape of women and the burning of farms leading to considerable loss of farm produce stored in the farm houses and those yet to be harvested.

They are also believed to be engaged in the cutting down of economic trees in feeding their animals which is making the area more prone to desertification.

Residents on several occasions have engaged in confrontation with these herdsmen and raised concerns over their continuous stay in the district and have therefore called on the authorities to as a matter of urgency eject them or closely monitor their activities, but to no avail.

However, the Coordinator of the NRGP Mr. Roy Ayariga is advocating for the creation of what he termed “Cattle Movement Corridors or Belts” by government to regulate the movement of the alien Fulani herdsmen and to restrain them from messing up with local farm lands.

He explained that, the construction of the Cattle Movement Corridors could be developed in such a way that they would have vaccination point or outlets managed by the Veterinary officers, wells or watering point and pastures at the already depleted areas.

Mr. Ayariga who is also a former Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the Upper East Region emphasized that the creation of the corridors would compel the alien herdsmen to enter into Ghana through the approved routes to avoid the destruction of farms. 

He suggested that the corridors could be created as “Western Corridors which would receive aliens from the Burkina Faso through Tumu, Sawla, Bole-Bamboi to Tain whiles the Eastern Corridors would comprise Kpandai, Saboba, Buipe and communities along the white volta down to the southern part.

But Mr. Ayariga was quick to advise that the creation of the Cattle Movement Corridors could be properly developed and managed through a strong cooperation between the government of Ghana and Burkina Faso.

He also advised that the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies together with the traditional authorities in the affected areas could come together to ensure the enforcement and compliance of the laws that would government the creation of the Cattle Movement Corridors.

In advising farmers against post-harvest losses, Mr. Ayariga however, encouraged the farmers to process their crops quickly after harvesting and carry them home or construct fire belts to prevent the crops from bush fires and stray cattle which normally pounce on their maize, groundnuts, millet and rice among others. 

According to him, traditional rulers and their community taskforces could better manage the current or prevailing activities of the alien Fulanis whiles government and its partners take steps to ensure a long term measure.

He lamented that use of maximum force by the Police and Military who found it difficult to stay in the communities for longer periods to regulate the activities of the herdsmen, was not the right answer to situation.

Mr. Ayariga on the other hand, outlined some of the interventions being initiated by the NRGP and for that matter government of Ghana to address most of the challenges facing the farmers in the three Northern Regions.

According to him, the overall goal of the programme was to contribute to an equitable and sustainable poverty reduction and food security among rural households and to increase Northern Ghana area rural households’ income on a sustainable basis. 

As a result, the NRGP with funding support from the African Development Bank (AfDB), he indicated had constructed several kilometers of feeders roads in the 32 beneficiary districts of the programme to ensure that farmers get easy access to their farms and to the market centres. 

The Programme had also provided standardized storage facilities, irrigation systems, improved seeds, fertilizers and other farm inputs as well as financial support to farmers to ensuring smooth farming business.

Mr. Ayariga noted with joy that the NRGP had been able to train more farmers in ensuring high agricultural productivity and reducing post-harvest losses. 

Meanwhile, about 372,000 rural households representing about three million people living in those households are expected to directly or indirectly benefit from the NRGP programme.

Kesmi FM Celebrates Easter With Mentally Retard Children

Children they say are gifts from God. No matter the appearance they come into this world with, parents are supposed to treat them with tender love and care. 

Unfortunately, that is not the case. Among most indigenous tribes in Ghana, children born with any form of disability particularly those with autism, multiple or single limbs, severe mental retardation among others, are always referred to as “spirit children” because of their strange behavior and physical appearance. 

Those unfortunately born to heartless parents most often do not live to celebrate their fifth birth day as they are either intentionally poisoned to death or abandoned in a thick forest for wild beasts to devour.

Example of mentally retard children elsewhere

However, those that are lucky are allowed to grow but are mostly also, denied their educational and health needs by parents who do not see any reason why they should invest in a somewhat ‘good-for-nothing-child’, as they describe them. 

These children are stigmatized, treated with contempt and as vulnerable as they are, subjected to all forms of abuses which are detrimental to their lives.  

Thus, the Mayor of Tamale Alhaji Abudulai Harruna Friday, has made a passionate appeal to parents who have given birth to children with any kind of disability to endeavour to take care of their educational and health needs.

According to him, most of such children are imbued with natural talent and with the right form of formal education and training, they could grow to become bigwigs in any profession they desire in life.

He made the appeal when he joined the Yumba Special School in Tamale as guest of honour during a get together organized by Ultimate Multimedia Company Limited, operators of Kesmi FM 107.1 MHz dubbed “Kesmi Easter Fest”. 

Alhaji Friday said the deplorable state of the school, the only one of its kind serving the three regions of Northern Ghana– Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions, would henceforth be introduced to any investor who comes into the region to do business, so that such a measure could grab their benevolence and support. 

The General Manager of Kesmi FM Fred Chidi, told this writer in an interview that, the company decided to choose the Yumba Special School amongst many deprived institutions in the Tamale Metropolis to show them some love in this period of Easter.

Another intention of the company, he noted, was to project the school to the entire nation and launch a fundraising appeal so that proceeds of the initiative could be used to provide recreational and learning materials for the children and as well as improve upon the school’s infrastructure.

He hinted that the event was going to be annually, and appealed to the general public and corporate organizations to show their widows mite to the school through Kesmi FM as they celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Established some ten years ago by Mrs. Georgina Nuagah, an educationist, the Yumba Special School currently has over 100 pupils who are suffering from severe mental retardation often developed at birth.

As a school for only mentally retard children, the method of teaching and learning is different from the normal formal system of education. According to Mrs. Nuagah who is currently the head-teacher of the school, children are taught daily living skills and vocational training.

She told this reporter that the biggest challenge facing the school was the extension of neglect of most children by their parents from the homes to the school, saying “most parents refuse to attend P.T.A meetings anytime they are invited. They still neglect such children even after enrolling them in school and feel that they [parents] will be stigmatized by other people who will see them when they attend P.T.A meetings.”

Mrs. Nuagah also complained about the erratic nature government provide funds needed to run the school citing for instance, the whole of last year when the late release of funds almost led to the closing down of the school had it not been the benevolence of some people.

According to her, the school currently owed some fuel filling stations up to the tune of about GH¢3,000.00 and further cited inadequate classrooms, lack of accommodation and a fence wall among others, as some of the challenges that had compelled authorities to operate the school as day instead of boarding.