The Department of Environmental Science of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, in collaboration with the University of York, United Kingdom has held a stakeholder workshop on the theme, “Climate-Smart Agriculture and Climate Information for Resilient Food Systems.” The workshop aimed at assessing how climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and climate information could be mainstreamed to strengthen the resilience of the agricultural system in Ghana.
The workshop is part of the Future-Leaders African Independent Research (FLAIR), Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), and Newton Fund consolidation project that seek to build resilience in agricultural systems in Ghana. This is to guide the development of appropriate policy intervention to support smallholder farmers in managing the risk associated with climate change and variability.
In his welcome address, Professor Leonard K. Amekudzi, the Provost of the College of Science, highlighted the pressing issue of climate change and its disproportionate impact on African countries, especially those in the tropics. He stressed the need for all stakeholders to collaborate in finding solutions, particularly in the area of CSA. The workshop, he said, is a step in the right direction to provide a valuable platform for researchers to engage in discussions and explore potential solutions to address this critical challenge.
According to Professor Philip Antwi-Agyei, the Principal Investigator of the FLAIR Project and Director of the Office of Grant and Research (OGR), CSA practices are gaining acceptance among rural communities in the Northern Region. He emphasised the importance of adopting CSA practices to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on the Country's economic sectors.
As Ghana relies heavily on rainfall for irrigation, he reiterated the need for timely access to reliable climate information and called for collaboration between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), and academia to ensure its effective dissemination. Professor Antwi-Agyei also urged farmers to embrace CSA practices to reduce the greenhouse effect and minimise the impact of climate change on their livelihoods.
Presenting on ‘Government’s adaptation efforts at addressing climate change in Ghana,’ Ms. Juliana Bempah from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledged the continuous increase in climate variability in Ghana. This, she said, has resulted in extreme weather events, disasters, and rising sea levels along the coastlines.
To address these challenges, she noted that the EPA has implemented several projects, including nationally determined contributions, climate change policies, and action programmes outlined in the national climate change master plan. She added that the EPA collaborates with private sector, researchers, and various government departments to find solutions to issues relating to climate change. Despite these efforts, Ms. Bempah emphasised the need for increased investment and awareness creation to effectively tackle climate change challenges in Ghana.
Ms. Maureen Ahiataku, the Senior Meteorologist and External Relations Officer of the Hydro-Meteorological Unit at the Ghana Meteorological Agency, provided insight on the weather and climate products and services available to farmers in Ghana. She noted that GMet offers marine and inland water forecasts, as well as information on aviation and public weather warnings and advisories.
To ensure widespread use of these services, the Agency partners with the Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme (GASIP) to explain the GMet template to users in the Northern Regions of Ghana. Again, she disclosed that the Agency has created a website called Rain Watch, which allows users to access data on rainfall variations and demographics to aid in farming.
Joining virtually, Professor Andy Dougill, Dean, Faculty of Sciences at the University of York, UK, emphasised the importance of CSA interventions and policy support. He stressed the need for a collaborative approach, integrating inputs and crop residue management. He called on researchers to support CSA by linking scientific insights on soil health, water resources, and climate services with local knowledge framing for smallholder farmers. This, he believes, will improve crop yields without compromising soil quality.
The workshop ended with a focus group exercise and plenary session, during which participants had the opportunity to voice their questions and contributions.