The European Union in Ghana (EU Ghana) has introduced a manual designed to train and empower agriculture extension agents to support farmers in mitigating the impacts of climate change.
The Conservation Agriculture manual, a collaborative effort between the EU, GIZ, and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), targets over 2,000 extension agents with standardized and effective climate-smart agriculture methods for the Savannah regions of Ghana.
Conservation Agriculture involves soil management practices that minimize soil disturbance, conserve soil water, and enhance biodiversity.
Mr. Jonas Claes, Deputy Head of Mission, EU Ghana, highlighted the significance of the manual in promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
“I am proud to say that the manual is practical and provides useful tips and guidelines to extension officers so they can, in turn, provide their knowledge to smallholder farmers,” he stated.
The EU's goal is to enhance cooperation and strengthen local adaptation among farmers to address the challenges posed by climate change.
Mr. Daniel Krull, German Ambassador to Ghana, emphasized the immediate need to address climate change, stating, “Climate change is no longer a risk but a reality the world has come to face.”
He highlighted the urgency of tackling the threat, especially in Africa, where the negative impacts are expected to be more pronounced.
Mr Kingsley Kwasi Agyeman, Climate Change and Management Specialist at MoFA noted that Ghana's agriculture is vulnerable to climate change due to its reliance on rainfall farming.
The impacts include reduced crop yields, increased post-harvest losses, low farm income, and migration. To address these challenges, the Ministry has implemented a Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) program.
“We have, through the CSA and Food Security policy, ensured that the CSA is mainstreamed in the activities of the Ministry at the farm level for farmers,” Mr Agyeman explained.
