Food security situation in Northern Ghana: coping strategies and related constraints

This paper looks at the food security situation in three regions of Northern Ghana and examines how farmer households cope during food insecure periods. <br /><br />The author finds that productivity by farmer households in all the three Northern regions (Upper West, Upper East and Northern) was generally low, with average weight yields per hectare of surveyed crops far below the recommended yield using improved agricultural practices. Similarly, production was found to be on a small scale and largely for subsistence use.&nbsp;<br />Household food insecure periods are reported to span between three and seven months. Upper East Region was the worst affected, experiencing the longest food shortage period of six months while the Northern and Upper West regions recorded five months of food inadequacy. It is argued that productivity in agricultural activities was constrained by several factors: low level of fertiliser application due to high cost and lack of credit lack of bullocks/ tractor services for farm preparation unavailability of improved seeds and lack of knowledge on improved farming practices lack of market for farm produce lack of storage structures and poor record keeping poor road networks inadequate supply of drinking water lack of electricity and schools in most farming communities In conclusion, the author highlight the need to increase commitments to agricultural technology improvements and natural resource sustainability through augmented investments in agricultural research and development, targeting the needs of the vulnerable and impoverished households. It is argued that in order to build resilience to the food insecurity situation in Northern Ghana, yield improvement and market linkage programmes need to be strengthened through the following: improving access to hybrid seeds training seed growers to increase seed production conducting more farm demonstrations on improved agricultural practices assisting in soil improvement interventions linking more farmers to input dealers and encouraging farmers to use agrochemicals in right quantities organising inventory credit programmes for commodities like maize exploring market opportunities for non-traditional commodities like groundnut and yam involving more local people and stakeholders in setting priorities for public investments in food security programmes assisting in livestock husbandry practices and feeding programmes <br />