The German Technical Cooperation GIZ in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Farm Radio International have launched a radio service program in Primukyeae a farming community in the Atebubu-Amantin district aimed at educating farmers on the effects of climate change.

The programme which will run for forty weeks on a local radio station Star 89.7 FM will also take farmers through good and appropriate agricultural practices to enable them limit the adverse effects of climate change.

Whiles the programme is tailored to educate farmers within the district and beyond, Primukyeae and Lalai will serve as project intervention communities.

In a welcome address, the district Director of Agriculture Mr. Wilfred Anonadaga expressed his gratitude to GIZ for the support which will help improve the livelihood of farmers and ensure food security.

“We will notice that we can no longer predict the time for rainfall, neither the planting season. There is therefore the need to stop, think, observe and see what measures to put in place to improve upon production to enable us sustain our livelihoods”. He stressed.

A representative of World Vision International a nongovernmental Organization Mr. Maxwell Amedi said the program will be complimentary to the activities of his outfit.

“ As a child centered organization World Vision takes active interest in environmental issues because it affects child well being by influencing food and nutrition, water and sanitation, health, physical and mental development as well as hope and security”. He added.

Performing the launch, the District Chief Executive, Mr. Sampson Owusu Boateng assessed the impact of climate change on agriculture and how it affects the millennium development goal one which aims at eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.

He stressed the need for information since it is very critical to decision making especially when 54.6% of the population of the district are actively involved in agriculture.

“It is therefore important that the interrelationship between climate change and agricultural production is made available to them to guide them in their farming activities”. He concluded.

Daniel Oduro-Stewart/Ghanadistricts.com