Farmers urged to adopt climate-smart practices to minimise potential effects of El Niño

Farmers, particularly those in Northern Ghana, have been urged to adopt proactive and climate-smart agricultural practices to minimise the potential effects of El Niño and safeguard food security.

Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Monday November 9, Associate Professor at the Department of Food Security and Climate Change of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Prof. Joseph Amikuzuno said farmers must begin preparing for the possible effects of the climate phenomenon by adopting farming practices that can help them withstand changing weather conditions.

His comments follow an announcement by global meteorological authorities about the possible effects of El Niño, a natural climate phenomenon characterised by the unusual warming of surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, which influences weather patterns across different parts of the world.

Explaining the phenomenon, Prof Amikuzuno said El Niño occurs periodically and affects several parts of the world, including Ghana.

He noted that Northern Ghana was already experiencing rising temperatures associated with climate change, warning that the potential effects of El Niño could further intensify the situation.

He said the phenomenon could influence rainfall patterns, delay the onset of the 2027 farming season and result in prolonged dry spells and higher temperatures.

According to him, the anticipated rise in temperatures could also trigger heat stress and increase the risk of heat-related health challenges, including Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM).

Prof Amikuzuno further warned that prolonged high temperatures could affect water levels in major reservoirs and potentially undermine hydroelectric power generation.

He, however, stressed that the announcement of the possible effects of El Niño was not intended to create panic but to raise awareness and encourage individuals, communities and institutions to take preventive measures.

To minimise the potential impact on agricultural production, he urged farmers to cultivate drought-tolerant crop varieties, practise mulching, use compost and adopt effective water conservation methods.

He also encouraged households to strengthen food preservation and storage practices, particularly by drying and preserving perishable commodities such as tomatoes, pepper and okra for future consumption.

Beyond agriculture, Prof Amikuzuno cautioned against environmentally harmful practices, including bush burning and deforestation, which contribute to environmental degradation and worsen the effects of climate change.

“Let’s look at these strategies to help reduce general high temperatures and possibly the effects of El Niño,” he urged.

He called on Ghanaians to take climate change seriously by embracing climate-smart agricultural practices, planting more trees and protecting the environment.

Prof Amikuzuno also commended government initiatives, including tree-planting programmes, aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change.

He explained that trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it, together with solar energy, during photosynthesis to produce food, while releasing oxygen as a by-product.

He noted, however, that the sustainability of such initiatives would depend largely on public participation, collective responsibility and proper care of planted trees to ensure their long-term survival and contribution to environmental protection.

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