Dr. Doris Yaa Osei has raised significant concerns regarding climate change and its impending threats to agriculture and food security in Ghana. Speaking at a recent event, she emphasized the unpredictable weather patterns and their adverse effects on crop and livestock production. She proposed sustainable farming practices and addressed the need for national awareness to mitigate these challenges, highlighting the importance of agricultural resilience and self-sufficiency to reduce reliance on imports.
Dr. Doris Yaa Osei, the Acting Deputy Director of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s Animal Research Institute, has expressed concerns regarding the imminent threat of climate change to agriculture and food security. Speaking at the National Farmers’ Day celebration in Adentan, Accra, she emphasized the significant impacts of unpredictable rainfall patterns on agricultural stability and resource availability, thereby posing challenges to food security and livelihoods in the region. She warned that climate change could adversely affect crop production, as well as livestock feed resources and water supplies. Additionally, she identified bush fires as potential hazards that could disrupt communities. To mitigate these effects, Dr. Osei recommended adopting drought-tolerant crop varieties, implementing climate-smart agricultural practices, utilizing water-efficient irrigation systems, and engaging in appropriate farming techniques to enhance resilience against changing climate conditions. Citing a recent study conducted in the Kwahu Afram Plains, Dr. Osei noted that the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture have intensified over the past three decades and are predicted to worsen without proactive policy interventions and a shift towards climate-smart technologies. She underscored the need for national awareness campaigns on climate change and its mitigation strategies to alleviate its impact on agriculture in Ghana. Furthermore, Dr. Osei urged agricultural stakeholders to strive for increased food production to reduce reliance on imports, which incurred a considerable financial burden on the nation. She highlighted statistics indicating that Ghana imported approximately 288,944 metric tons of meat in 2022, costing around 3,126 million Ghana Cedis. Given that agriculture is a vital sector, contributing to over one-third of the national GDP and employing a significant portion of the workforce, she called for increased investment to bolster production and farmers’ incomes, particularly for smallholder farmers.
The discussion on climate change and its impacts on agriculture has gained urgency due to erratic weather patterns that threaten food production systems. Dr. Doris Yaa Osei, representing a prominent research institute in Ghana, highlights the vulnerabilities posed by climate change, urging the adoption of innovative agricultural practices to combat these challenges. Agriculture plays a crucial role in Ghana’s economy and supports the livelihoods of countless citizens, thus making it imperative to address the issues arising from climate change promptly and effectively.
In conclusion, Dr. Doris Yaa Osei has brought to light the critical challenges posed by climate change to agriculture and food security in Ghana. Her proposals for adopting sustainable agricultural practices, increasing national awareness, and striving for self-sufficiency in food production underscore the urgency of addressing this pressing issue. With agriculture being a cornerstone of the nation’s economy, proactive measures are essential to safeguard the future of food security and the livelihoods of many Ghanaians.
Original Source: dailyguidenetwork.com
