A destructive bout of torrential rainfall on the evening of October 9th has left an eight-hectare sorghum farm in Ulkpong, Jirapa Municipality, completely washed away. The farmer, Mr. Kommiri Kwaku, is grappling with the staggering level of destruction and the substantial investment he had put into his now-devastated farmland.
In an interview with Huudi Yahaya, the host of Jirapa FM’s “Yiriyele” program, , the Assembly Member for the Ulkpong electoral area, Mr. Hudu Moro likened the tragedy to the sudden loss of a healthy child. “As I speak to you, I am at the residence of Mr. Kommiri Kwaku, along with other community members, to console him,” he said. “From his facial expression, you will realize that he is really hurt. It is just like you losing a healthy child who died all of a sudden.”
The Assemblyman revealed that he has reported the incident to the Jirapa National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) director, the Municipal Chief Executive, and the Member of Parliament for the Jirapa Constituency.
Responding to the incident, the NADMO director for Jirapa Municipal Alhaji Muktari Abudi mentioned that his team visited the farm and assessed the extent of the destruction. Adding that the data will be forwarded to the regional office. However, he was unable to confirm when assistance could be provided to the distressed farmer.
The director also disclosed that he reported the matter to his regional superiors.
Some serial callers who phone into the “Yiriyele” program expressed skepticism about whether Mr. Kwaku would receive any support from NADMO. They cited previous incidents where disaster victims had their damages assessed but ultimately received no assistance, leaving them to cope with their losses independently.
Agriculture remains one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change in Africa in terms of declines in agricultural production and uncertain climate that significantly affects food security. Yet, agriculture is an important source of livelihoods.
An average of 70% of the population lives by farming; 40% of all exports earnings come from agriculture, and about one-third of the national income in Africa is generated by agriculture.
The poorest members of society in African countries are those most dependent on rain-fed subsistence agriculture for food, jobs and income, and hence the most vulnerable to changes in climate.
Sub-Sahara Africa is considered to be most vulnerable to climate variability including flooding. The frequency and severity of floods in Northern Ghana over the last decade has increased considerably.
