As flooding becomes more frequent across Ghana, agricultural scientists are calling for the adoption of flood-resistant crop varieties and climate-smart farming practices to reduce crop losses, protect farmers’ livelihoods and strengthen national food security.
Floods have increasingly disrupted farming activities in many parts of the country, destroying crops, eroding fertile soils and reducing yields. The situation has heightened concerns about food availability, rising food prices and the resilience of Ghana’s agricultural sector in the face of climate change.
Mr. Jewel Andoh, a Forestry and Economics Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), said developing and promoting flood-tolerant crop varieties would be critical to helping farmers adapt to changing weather patterns.
He explained that while not all crops could withstand prolonged flooding, research had identified and developed improved varieties capable of tolerating temporary waterlogging and recovering more quickly after floods.
“Climate change requires us to rethink how we produce food. Farmers need access to crop varieties that can better withstand flooding while maintaining reasonable yields,” he said.
Mr. Andoh noted that adopting improved seed varieties alone would not eliminate flood-related losses, stressing that farmers must also embrace climate-smart agricultural practices.
These include improving farm drainage, constructing raised beds or ridges in flood-prone areas, adopting appropriate planting calendars, conserving soil and integrating trees into farming systems through agroforestry.
According to him, agroforestry helps reduce soil erosion, improves water infiltration and contributes to better management of watersheds, thereby lowering flood risks over time.
He also attributed worsening floods partly to environmental degradation, particularly deforestation and poor land-use practices, which reduce the land’s ability to absorb rainfall.
“The loss of forest cover increases surface runoff, making floods more severe and exposing farmlands to greater damage,” he said.
From an economic perspective, Mr. Andoh said repeated flood events impose significant financial burdens on farmers through lost harvests, damaged infrastructure and higher production costs.
He noted that the impact extends beyond individual farmers, affecting food supply chains, increasing market prices and placing additional pressure on the country’s food import bill.
He called for greater investment in agricultural research, seed production and extension services to ensure climate-resilient technologies reach farmers across the country.
Mr. Andoh also urged government to strengthen support for climate adaptation by improving irrigation infrastructure, expanding access to agricultural insurance and promoting sustainable land management.
He said stronger collaboration among research institutions, government agencies, seed companies and farmers would be essential to building a resilient agricultural sector capable of withstanding future climate shocks.
“As climate risks continue to increase, investing in resilient crops and sustainable farming practices is no longer optional. It is essential for protecting livelihoods, ensuring food security and supporting long-term economic growth,” he said.
