In Tumu, Upper West Region of Ghana, where mornings typically find farmers tending to their fields, Khadijah Salifu (not her real name), a Level 300 Nutritional Science student at the University for Development Studies, is unexpectedly at home, taking a break from her farming activities.

Khadijah feels hopeless and unmotivated to visit her 3-acre maize farm, which has been ravaged by the recent dry spell, and wonders what the point would be, saying "What's the use of going there? The farm is already ruined.”

Khadijah was born into a family of farmers and naturally followed in her parents' footsteps, embracing agriculture as a way to support and build upon their legacy, while also contributing to the well-being and values of her family.

Khadijah began farming in 2021 to financially support her education, and her initial successes - harvesting 45 bags from her 3-acre farm - motivated her to continue. However, due to the current dry spell, she faces the disappointing prospect of a barren harvest, dashing her hopes for financial gains from this season's efforts.

Her hopes have been dashed as the dry spell threatens to wipe out her 10,250 cedis investment in the farm, leaving her worried about how she will pay her university fees and support her three younger siblings, who rely on her for their needs, a weighty burden that now weighs heavily on her mind.

The situation is further complicated for Khadijah as her elder brother's impending graduation from the University of Education in Ghana adds to the family's financial pressures, while her parents' own 10-acre farm, which was meant to provide additional support, has also been impacted by the dry spell, leaving the family's livelihoods hanging in the balance.

Khadijah acknowledges that this is her first experience with a severe dry spell, lasting over a month, and although she has faced other challenges in the past, this one is by far the most devastating, making it a particularly difficult and unprecedented test for her.

Khadijah expresses her uncertainty and fear about the future of her farm, saying "I'm scared and unsure whether to continue or give up," and is waiting for the season to end before making a decision, a sentiment shared by other farmers in Tumu who are also indecisive about their next steps.

Farmers in over 5 regions lose livelihoods to dry spell

In other regions, including the Upper East, Northeast, Northern, Savannah, parts of Bono East, and Oti regions farmers are suffering the consequences of the dry spell, losing their investments and livelihoods. These smallholder farmers, who primarily grow food to feed their families and only sell excess produce, are being unfairly penalized for factors they did not create.

A 32-year-old former teacher from the Northern region, Abubakri Belawu Mbangba, turned to farming full-time, but is now struggling to cope with the challenges facing the agricultural sector.

Madam Belawu has invested over 40,000 cedis in her 20-acre maize farm, which has now withered away, leaving her with significant losses, despite employing 13 workers, including 3 permanent staff.

Madam Belawu lamented that a devastating 70% of her farm has been ruined, leaving nothing to recover, marking the first time she's experienced such severe weather conditions since 2017. Despite the disaster, she's struggling to find a solution to pay her workers, with whom she's had to have difficult discussions about their monthly wages.

“70 percent of the farm has been wilted and there is nothing to salvage. With the workers, I pay them monthly. Even though there is a disaster, I have to sit with them and discuss on how to resolve their payment,” Belawu said.

Madam Belawu, like Khadijah, avoided visiting her farm due to the distressing sight of her withered crops, saying, "I visited the farm 3 weeks ago and it was not a good thing to see."

Despite the challenges, Belawu, who supports her 2 siblings, mother, and household, remains determined to continue farming. She plans to rely on her buffer stock and address family concerns. Undeterred, she intends to evaluate the situation, reassess her approach, and consider changing crops if necessary, saying, "I will not stop farming."

Farmers, officials sound alarm bell

The severity of the dry spell's impact on agriculture has been corroborated by officials, farmers, and residents, who have all confirmed the widespread destruction. Social media platforms have been flooded with posts and updates from affected individuals and communities, indicating the devastating effects of the weather condition and raising awareness about the urgent need for relief and support.

Wa East's District Director of Agriculture, Madam Mavis Derigubah, reported that the district is experiencing a severe dry spell, impacting all crops, including grains, cereals, and root vegetables, with some areas facing a two-month rainfall deficit, leaving farmers increasingly worried.

"This dry spell has affected grains, cereals, and even root and tuber crops," she explained. "Farmers are deeply concerned as some areas have gone without rain for almost two months."

Acting Regional Director of Agriculture, Huudu Abu, noted that early-season maize planters are bearing the brunt of the dry spell, with the typically maize-rich Sissala areas facing unprecedented rainfall disruptions, leaving numerous farmers on the brink of crop loss.

"The Sissala enclaves, known for their large-scale maize production, have experienced unusual rain patterns this year, leaving many farmers struggling to salvage their crops."

In the Oti region, which borders the Savannah region, most farmers depend on rain-fed agriculture to grow essential crops like maize, rice, groundnuts, millet, beans, cassava, and yams. However, the persistent dry spell has caused crops to wither, resulting in drastically reduced yields, and prompting many farmers to relinquish their fields, leaving their livelihoods severely impacted.

Nkwanta Senior High School's agricultural department, which sought to provide students with practical farming experience, has suffered a significant loss due to the dry spell. The school's five-acre maize farm, a crucial resource for hands-on learning and a staple food source, has withered away, leaving the department's goals and the students' learning experience severely impacted.

The Chief Agriculture Technical Officer in Nkwanta South, Stephen Darko, has expressed grave concerns about the prolonged dry spell, cautioning that the government's Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ II) program may fall short of its objectives if the weather condition continues.

Market traders are struggling due to the surge in maize prices and scarcity, as farmers withhold sales fearing shortages, and when they do sell, the high prices leave traders with minimal profits, with some, like Ajara Ma, warning that continued drought could lead to business closures.

Islamic scholars lead congregational prayer for rain

Islamic scholars across the regions had organised Islamic prayer for the rain called "Salat al-Istisqa". It is a special prayer performed during times of dry spell, drought or water scarcity, seeking Allah's mercy and relief. Muslims gather in congregation, recite specific Quranic verses and supplications, and perform a two-unit prayer, asking Allah to bring forth rain and end the drought. This prayer is a display of humility, gratitude, and trust in Allah's provision.

On August 8, 2024, large numbers of Muslims gathered at various prayer grounds in the Northern region to observe the special prayer for rain. Following the prayer, the faithful were reminded to uphold good behavior and moral values, and to persist in their supplications for divine intervention.

As noted on Facebook post shared by Inusah Dondaliya, "Muslims were urged to be of good behaviour and exude good moral standards... and not relent in their efforts to continually ask God for the rains."

Muslim leaders at the Anbariya Sunni Central Mosque in Tamale emphasized the importance of adopting best climate practices to mitigate the impacts of climate change in Northern Ghana.

Later, on August 11, 2024, a similar prayer gathering was held in Manwe, a farming community and gateway to the Wa East district in the Upper West region. A large crowd of Muslims congregated in an open space, fervently praying for rain, as the region's predominantly farming community faces severe dry spell.

In the Savannah and Bono East regions, which share a border, Muslims gathered to observe the prayer for rain. However, as noted by Danjuma Yaro, a resident of Kintampo in the Bono East region, in a Facebook post: "It's almost getting to two weeks since a special prayer was said for rains. Still no show. Prayer yet to be answered. Farms continue to face devastating destruction. What is happening?" The community remains concerned and eager for relief from the weather condition.

Danjuma's Facebook post conveys a sense of urgency and desperation as he expressed frustration that the special prayer for rain, held nearly two weeks ago, has yet to yield any results. He lamented the continued destruction of farms due to the dry spell, questioning why their prayers seem to be going unanswered. His words convey a deep concern for the well-being of his community, which relies heavily on agriculture, and the devastating impact of the prolonged dry spell.

GMet predicted late rains and prolonged dry spells

The Ghana Meteorological Agency's (GMet) 2024 forecast for the Northern region predicted a high chance of late onset of the rainy season, normal to prolonged early dry spells, long to normal late dry spells and late cessation of the rainy season. The forecast suggested a potentially challenging year for agriculture, with delayed and unpredictable rainfall patterns likely to impact crop growth and food production.

The rainfall forecast predicted above-average to average rainfall in most areas from May to July, except for parts of the forest zone, which will receive below-average to average rainfall. Above-average to average rainfall in the northern sector from June to August, while the rest of the country will receive average to below-average rainfall. Above-average to average rainfall in the northern region from July to September, while the rest of the country would receive average to above-average rainfall.

The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) conducted a community-based education and sensitization, although limited resources restricted its scope. The project targeted select areas in the northern, upper east, central and transition regions.

In the Northern Region, residents in Tamale, Kumbungu, Tolon, and surrounding areas participated in the exercise. GMet visited Bolgatanga, Navrongo, Bongo, and other communities in the Upper East Region to raise awareness. The team also educated and sensitized farmers in Wa, Lawra, Jirapa, and nearby areas in the Upper West Region.

In the Transitional Zone, communities in Kintampo, Bawa Kuraa, Adomano, Agyagyanakunu, Adiembra, Tano Boaso, and others benefited from the campaign. GMet also reached out to residents in Cape Coast, Elmina, Kissi, Mempeasem, Dehia, and surrounding areas in the Central Region, ensuring a wide geographic coverage.

In these areas, GMet educated and trained agriculture extension agents on impending dry spells and provided copies of seasonal forecast and printed posters for circulation in the communities. The initiative aimed to raise awareness and prepare farmers for potential dry spells.

GMet said they explicitly warned of a dry spell and advised farmers to prepare, but despite the alerts and community sensitization efforts, many farmers didn't believe it and didn't take necessary precautions.

“We were categorically on the dry spell, length of raining days and we advised them prepare for it,” Head of research and applied meteorology at GMet, Francisca Martey said.

Franscica noted that the farmers' failure to heed the warnings and alerts serves as a valuable lesson for all, indicating the importance of taking proactive measures and not taking warnings lightly, especially when it comes to climate-related risks.

GMet has consistently advised farmers to adopt irrigation and efficient water management practices to mitigate the impact of dry spells on crops - emphasizing the importance of conserving water for both human and animal consumption. GMet recommended that farmers diversify their income streams and implement practices like tillage, mulching, market gardening, and agroforestry to reduce production shortfalls.

"Adopt farming techniques/practices for the conservation of soil water. Liaison with national Meteorological, agricultural and hydrological authorities for information and experts’ advice," she said in the 2022 seasonal forecast.

Calls for government support

Farmers appealed to the government and NGOs for support due to the devastating dry spell. A representative for peasant farmers in the Upper West region, Lawie Bonzo Vincent, stressed the need for small-scale irrigation systems to maintain agricultural production amidst increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. He warned that over 800 farmers and 8,000 households are at risk.

However, Madam Belawu's 2-acre irrigated vegetable farm in Botanga in the Northern region, featuring cabbage and okra, is thriving due to a consistent water supply, indicating the potential of irrigation in mitigating the effects of dry spells.

The success of Madam Belawu's irrigated farm serves as a compelling example for civil society groups advocating for expanded irrigation infrastructure to safeguard crops from similar weather events.

They urged the government and stakeholders to enhance the capacity of the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) to reach more farming communities, providing critical climate information and training to enable farmers to take proactive measures.

Director for Research at Centre for Climate Change and Food Security (CCCFS), Issifu Sulemana said, by doing so, GMet can facilitate timely interventions, such as early warnings and adaptive farming practices, to mitigate the impacts of dry spells and ensure food security.