Food Shortage and Price Hikes Next Year? MOFA

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) is warning of possible food shortages next year in Ghana and nobody is talking. Many people have little knowledge of how the foods they eat get to their table. Of course they do. They get into a grocery store within the city, or jumble about in Makola or a local market and get their foods. Therefore, it is quite understandable the little attention MOFA's warning has received.

What is interesting is that it does not stop at food shortages, price hikes will follow. The Metropolitan director of Agriculture, Mr. Kwamina Akorful, in the Daily Graphic, compared the gradual rise in food prices for us: "The price of a sack of maize which used to be GHC30 around this time last year is now over GHC60 and even at that price, it is not readily available." [emphasis mine]. Shiortage of food cannot be delinked from food price hikes. That, in fact, is its logical conclusion. There will be less food, and what would be available at all would be costly.
According to Mr. Akorful, the current food shortages is due to an abrupt stoppage of rainfall in the north of Ghana. The man cites inconsistent rainfall. This irregular pattern led to crop failure. This is why there is a likely shortage? The crops include maize, rice, millet and sorghum.

As if this is not enough, farmers who depend solely and directly on their farms will starve, at least for "a greater part of the year." And nobody is listening.
And this is not the first time. In 1983, Ghana was self-sufficient in only one staple: plantain. In 2006 there were reports of possible food shortage in the north of Ghana. In September 2010, the government re-introduced levies on importation of foods such as rice oil and maize. The explanation was that government wanted to concentrate on local production. But the prices continue to rise, there is no clear corresponding rescue plan, and Ghanaians continue to suffer.

I thought the government introduced massive irrigation projects in farming regions, what happened? Why are we still mentioning rainfall as a sole determinant for good crop yields and food? Crop specialisation is key. The group Farmers Organisation Network of Ghana (FONG) have advocated that and have managed to get some farmers to cultivate yellow maize alone this year.

But I am alarmed. Farmers may starve. If farmers starve, what should happened to those sitting in cities comfortably? I have been against using our farmlands to produce export crops mostly. I may be alone. But, I am proud to say that I now eat plantain, cassava and banana from my own backyard. With the help of my family, we've put up a little farm. if you have a space in your home, turn it into something better. Grow foods on it. It might not help others, but it will save you money and others can get access to what, otherwise, you would have bought from the food market.