Ghana is intensifying efforts to protect its agriculture sector from worsening climate shocks, with government agencies, researchers and technical experts calling for stronger climate information services and early warning systems to help farmers respond before disasters strike.
During a high-level panel at the Ghana Day event at COP30 in Belém, officials from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Ghana Meteorological Agency and the University of Ghana’s Regional Institute for Population Studies noted the need to scale Climate-Smart Agriculture and ensure timely climate information reaches farmers across the country.
Climate-Smart Agriculture Works, But Adoption Remains Low
Experts noted that climate-smart practices such as drought-resistant seeds, improved soil and water management and resilient crop diversification are already yielding results in several agro-ecological zones. However, adoption remains low because many smallholder farmers lack timely and easy-to-understand climate information.
Panelists emphasised the need to translate technical climate data into simple advisories delivered through radio, mobile phones and community extension systems.
Early Warnings Must Trigger Early Action
The Ghana Meteorological Agency said early warning systems “must not be the work of a single agency” and called for stronger national coordination so that weather alerts automatically translate into community-level preparedness and early response.
Representatives from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture noted that linking early warnings to concrete action is now essential as seasonal risks intensify.
Tech Partnerships Set to Transform Farmer Access to Weather Information
The Ghana Meteorological Agency announced a new partnership with Google to provide more accessible and localised weather and disaster information for the public. Officials said the platform will make forecasts easier to understand and more widely available, describing it as a major step forward for millions of farmers who depend on predictable weather patterns.
Private Sector Innovation Needed for Scale
Panelists encouraged greater private sector involvement in resilience initiatives. They highlighted opportunities for businesses to provide digital advisory services, bundle farm inputs with weather information, expand climate-linked insurance and develop weather-indexed financial products.
They argued that agriculture’s long-term resilience depends on collaboration among agribusiness firms, mobile operators, insurers and climate service providers.
A Call for Policy Reform and Multi-Sector Coordination
The session concluded with calls for policy reforms that mandate integrated delivery of climate-smart agriculture and early warning services across the food system. Participants stressed that coordinated planning among ministries, local governments, research institutions and communities is essential for building resilience at scale.
Closing the Ghana Day programme, National Development Planning Commission Chairman Dr. Nii Moi Thompson reminded delegates of the need to protect people, livelihoods and ecosystems. “Our actions today will define the resilience of future generations,” he said.
