HAVEST IN PERIL: ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON MAIZE PRODUCTION IN GHANA.

 

 

Picture By: Vordzorgbe Eyram

  Agriculture is one of the most vulnerable sectors suffering from the impact of climate change. In Ghana, many small-scale or local farmers engage in rain-fed agriculture to cultivate their crops. Hence, with the rise in global temperatures, low rainfall, and unpredictable weather patterns, crops cultivated suffer from the effects of climate change. Zea Mays, commonly known as maize is one crop that is particularly affected by climate change in Ghana.

   As a main staple crop consumed by many Ghanaian households, maize is cultivated in various regions across Ghana, including the Northern Savannah sector. The main maize-producing regions are the Eastern, Ashanti, Volta, and Brong Ahafo regions. Maize is a principal requirement for making local foods such as “Apple”, “Kenkey” “Tuo Zaafi” and “Rasta porridge”. It is also used in brewing local alcohol (pito) - evidence of how important a crop it is to the Ghanaian people. Rising temperatures are however affecting the mass production and supply of maize in Ghana. Extreme climate conditions such as droughts and floods adversely affect maize productivity, contributing to food scarcity.

  Generally, an average temperature between 27.9•C and 28.1•C coupled with a precipitation range of 1290mm to 1390 mm is the optimal condition required for quality maize growth and yield. The crop does not thrive in overly hot or overly wet conditions. Hence, when maize is exposed to high temperatures in its reproductive stage, the temperature affects pollen viability, fertilization, and grain development.  According to a research article on nature.com, this can reduce maize yields between 80 to 90 percent.

However, over the decades, global temperatures have increased.  According to the 2022 annual Global Climate Report, the global annual temperature has increased at an average of 0.08•C (0.14•F) per decade since 1880 and over twice that rate (0.18/0.32•C) since 1981.  Due to the rising temperatures, changing weather patterns, and extreme climate conditions such as floods and droughts, maize production and yield have declined significantly in Ghana.

Research by Baffour-Ata et al revealed that increasing temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns have significantly affected maize yield in the Ashanti Region (a leading maize producer for Ghana). The situation is the same in almost all regions in the country.

In the Northern region, prolonged droughts have disrupted the cultivation of maize because irrigation use is low and rainfall is erratic.  Droughts reduce the availability of moisture needed for the development of maize crop and hence leads to the stunted growth of maize. This contributes to a low supply of maize in the region, as yield decreases when this natural disaster strikes, and consequently, it affects the country. For instance, in 2020, the country’s direct economic loss from drought was an estimated USD 95 million.

Climate change has also rendered Ghana’s maize quality below the international standard. This is because pests and diseases caused by climate change attack maize crops and reduce their quality and nutritional value. For instance, warmer temperatures lead to a higher breed of fall armyworms, a pest that destroys maize crops and threatens food security. According to the Ministry of Agriculture (Mofa 2017), about 14,247 hectares of cultivated land were destroyed by a fall armyworm outbreak in 2017. This substantially reduced yield and led to the loss of millions of Ghana cedis. Climate-induced diseases like maize streak virus, also affect maize quality and contribute to reduced maize yield. Pests and diseases destroy 40 percent of food crops around the world every year and hence affect the stable supply of maize crops.

These factors have affected the availability of maize in the country. As such, it leads to the mass importation of maize from other countries, leading to an increase in the price of maize.

 In 2021, Ghana imported $27.4 Million in corn, becoming the 90^th largest importer of corn in the world. This led to price hikes of the crop and affected the ability of locals to purchase maize at affordable prices.  Shortage in maize affects food security, as it hinders the availability, accessibility, and affordability of the crop.

As a stable food crop in  Ghana, it can lead to increased cases of hunger, taunting the country’s effort to reach sustainable development goal two (no hunger).

It is thus important to address climate change as it threatens stable food security and maize supply in the country. Local farmers must adapt to sustainable farming practices and innovations to ensure a stable supply of maize throughout the country. Additionally, irrigation farming must be encouraged, to end the dependence on rain-fed agriculture.

Also, citizens must be educated on the effects of their activities, which contribute to global warming. They must be encouraged to make eco-friendly decisions to protect the climate from further deteriorating.

These actions, when implemented will reduce the rate of climate change and further mitigate the impact of climate change on maize production and supply, ensuring food security in Ghana.

 Written By: Vordzorgbe Eyram