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Ghana: Rapid assessment of priority areas impacted by dry spell and district-level intervention priorities

Year of publication 2024

Place of publication Accra, Ghana ;

Pages 56 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (stand-alone)

ISBN 978-92-5-139401-4

To cite or share https://doi.org/10.4060/cd3443en

Synopsis (short abstract) Central and northern Ghana recently experienced an unusually severe dry spell during a crucial phase of the growing season. This event presents a major challenge for these regions, which are heavily dependent on rainfed agriculture and have limited access to irrigation infrastructure. The dry spell disproportionately impacted smallholder farmers, heightening risks to food production and stability across the country’s food systems. The potential consequences include higher food prices and increased demand for relief from the most affected farming communities.To support intervention planning, a rapid field assessment was undertaken to validate geospatial and crop damage analyses and provide field-based insights for agricultural partners. The assessment covered nine predominantly rural regions, which together account for approximately 31 percent of Ghana’s population. Preliminary findings revealed that food insecurity was already significant prior to the dry spell. In the Upper East, North East, Northern, and Savannah regions, food insecurity rates are notably high, impacting 49 percent, 33 percent, 31 percent, and 23 percent of the population, respectively. Detailed geospatial findings are accessible through a StoryMap.Agriculture remains the primary livelihood in these areas, with near-universal community engagement in farming. In the Northern, North East, and Upper East regions, 98–100 percent of communities rely on agriculture, and over 87 percent of communities in Bono, Savannah, and Upper West are similarly engaged. Ahafo also shows high agricultural participation, with over 96 percent of communities involved.Livestock production, another key livelihood, varies in prominence across regions. Upper East and North East regions report high livestock activity, with 71 percent and 44 percent of communities heavily engaged, respectively. In the Northern region, 65 percent of communities engage in livestock production, with 38 percent at a significant level. Conversely, Bono East has low livestock engagement, with 88 percent of communities minimally involved. A more balanced participation is observed in the Ahafo, Bono, and Oti regions.This assessment highlights critical areas of vulnerability and provides data to inform timely and targeted interventions to address food insecurity and support agricultural livelihoods in the face of climate-induced challenges.

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2024. Ghana: Rapid assessment of priority areas impacted by dry spell and district-level intervention priorities. Accra.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cd3443en

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