The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana is calling on government to establish an Agricultural Emergency Response Fund to support farmers who may suffer losses from anticipated El Niño-related weather conditions.
The Association says the proposed fund would provide timely financial assistance and compensation to farmers whose crops, investments and livelihoods are affected by extreme weather conditions.
Speaking to Channel One Business, the Association’s Executive Director, Bismark Nortey, said government must move beyond issuing weather forecasts and introduce practical measures to protect farmers against potential losses.
He proposed the establishment and capitalisation of an Agricultural Emergency Response Fund to ensure that affected farmers can access financial support when extreme weather conditions occur.
“We need to set or establish an Agricultural Emergency Response Fund where we are able to capitalise it and get some money ready, so that when this situation occurs and some farmers are affected, they can easily fall on those funds to provide adequate compensation,” he said.
Mr Nortey outlined a three-phase response strategy involving early preparation, immediate intervention during a crisis and long-term investment in agricultural resilience.
As part of the preventive measures, he urged government to work with relevant agencies to identify vulnerable farming communities, strengthen agricultural extension services and ensure farmers receive timely climate information in languages they understand.
He also called for the provision of climate-resilient agricultural inputs, particularly early-maturing seeds, to help farmers minimise production losses when adverse weather conditions occur.
Beyond immediate interventions, Mr Nortey stressed the need for sustained investment in irrigation infrastructure to reduce the agricultural sector's dependence on rainfall and safeguard food production.
He warned that failure to prepare adequately could threaten food security, drive up food prices and undermine farmers' ability to reinvest in their farms.
Mr Nortey cited the prolonged dry spell in 2024, which he said affected more than 400,000 farmers and resulted in significant losses to livelihoods and agricultural investments.
The Association is therefore urging government to establish an effective early-response mechanism to minimise the potential economic and social consequences of the anticipated weather disruption.
