Africa is facing the greatest catastrophe in human history. Climate change represents a nightmare scenario for the future of the people of the world's poorest continent. It is a known fact that some of the poorest parts of the continent will be the worst hit. The interior of Africa and particularly the Sahara and southern Africa will be most seriously affected, experiencing the most extreme temperature rises coupled with severe reductions in rainfall.

An increased body of evidence shows that climatic variability is adversely affecting Ghana?s natural resources such as land, water, forests and vegetation, as well as human capital.

Climate change is, therefore, expected to have significant impact on key resource-dependant sectors, such as agriculture and food production, and consequently on food security.

Food security is under threat from unpredictable changes in rainfall and more frequent extreme weather.

Recent statistics show that a total of 1.2 million Ghanaians are with limited access to sufficient and nutritious food throughout the year, whiles another 2 million are at risk or becoming food insecure during the lean season or at the onset of a natural or man-made disaster.

These figures constitute between 5 to 10% of the total population, but the majority of people at risk of food insecurity are concentrated in the three northern regions -Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions, according to researchers.

Events such as the severe floods and drought of 2007, coupled with climate change, chieftaincy conflicts, rise in global food and fuel prices have cumulatively heightened the already existing vulnerabilities among people and communities in these regions.

AGRICULTURE, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOOD SECURITY

Rain-fed farming activities, carried out on small farms, employing around 60% of the workforce in Ghana is what feeds a nation of 24 million.

This form of food production is extremely dependent on the climate, making it susceptible to rain and weather patterns, the availability of land and manpower. Would Ghana still be able to feed its population in the light of its changing climate? Some civil society organizations have queried.

In northern Ghana, the following experiences and observations in relation to a changing climate have been made: erratic rainfall, i.e. unpredictable patterns of rainfall poor rainfall – both in volumes and distribution increase incidence of pests and diseases – both on crops and livestock low crop yields and extinction of some species of animals and plants.

The observed impacts of climate change on food security in northern Ghana include: destruction of lives and property due to floods and droughts (for instance the 2007 disaster that led to the demolition of human and animal housing, the loss of animals, arable land and markets among others) decrease in the amount of physical resources available for agricultural purposes, and mainly due to increase in maintaining cost of destroyed infrastructure (example, for rehabilitation of roads, dams, among others)

Some farmers say erratic rainfalls and shifting weather patterns make the planning of the planting season increasingly difficult. This, coupled with soil fertility loss to floods and expanding deserts, plus depletion of ground water reserves due to prolonged droughts and wide proliferation on crops and livestock pests, can easily lead to drops in food crop yields, putting food security and income generated from food crops, livestock and fisheries in jeopardy.

It has already been projected that high temperatures in Ghana will lead to low cereal yields and as recurring drought has already had adverse impact on food and livestock production in the north, consequently leading to loss of food security, widespread hunger, deepening poverty and migration.

Adapting to climate change is vital in other to remain productive and competitive. Adaptation to climate change for food production activities such as farming, livestock rearing and fishing will require a shift to new and appropriated production methods and techniques, in order to counter the ameliorating effects of adverse climatic conditions on land, water and human capital, which are key inputs in food production.

For example, agricultural adaptation may result on an increase in soil organic matter, through increased use of manure or the adoption of more agro-forestry-based techniques. While increase in the availability of irrigation systems could help combat the effects of prolonged droughts.

Agriculture also offers an important pathway for reducing future emissions and for managing efficiently the Ghana key limited resource, such as water, land and biodiversity. If farmers are supported in introducing modern methods for growing their crops, they can reduce their emissions while growing more to feed themselves and earn extra incomes.

Techniques such as conservation agriculture require less tilling of the land and thus keep more carbon trapped in the soil. Helping farmers access the most up to date knowledge and tools can prevent the need for further clearing of natural habitats for agriculture and keep forests and grasslands in tact as vital carbon sinks.

It is important to adapt local food production in order to manage food security, to address the uncertainties and threats facing the farming communities, as well as explore ways of combating food insecurities cause by climate change in Ghana.