Amarteykope rice farmers lament impact of climate change

The AritaGlobe Foundation has launched the first episode of its Green Dialogue Series, spotlighting the increasing impact of climate change on agriculture in Ghana.

The debut episode features rice farmers in Amarteykope, a rural farming community in the Akuse area, where unpredictable rainfall and rising farming costs are making survival increasingly difficult.

The farmers, whose livelihoods depend on rice cultivation, are grappling with delayed rains, water scarcity, and rising operational expenses, all linked to climate change.

Bismark Asamoah, one of the rice farmers interviewed, described how the lack of rainfall has stunted rice growth.

“This year the rain didn’t come early, so the rice is not doing well. Because we didn’t get the rains, it had made it smaller and because there is no water, you will get more chaff. It’s only this Monday that I didn’t pump water into the farm. Have you seen how the ground has dried up?’’ He asked.

With rainfall patterns no longer reliable, some farmers have been forced to resort to artificial irrigation, an option that comes at a high cost. Jones Akpaglo, another farmer, lamented the financial strain of keeping his crops watered:

‘’This farm couldn’t have been like this if we had left it and said because there is no activity of rain we still live it like this. So we were compelled to look for pipes, get some pumping machine and be pumping water into the farm regularly so that the farm can do well. It comes with a lot of cost. You can see that I bought some fuel so that I can pump water into the farm. In a day, we can use three of this gallon which will cost 180 Ghana Cedis every day.’’

For others, the returns from farming under such harsh conditions barely make up for the investment. Ebenezer Apeku expressed concern over the narrow margins they now operate with.

“Because of the delay in rainfall, we don’t harvest much. So when you sell, the profit is small. It’s not encouraging at all.”

The Green Dialogue Series is an initiative by the Aritaglobe Foundation aimed at giving rural communities a platform to share how climate change is affecting their lives and livelihoods and provide possible solutions. Through storytelling and field interviews, the series captures firsthand experiences of farmers, fisherfolk, and rural dwellers navigating a changing climate.

Speaking on the significance of the series, Foundation Communication Director, Charles Akrofi said:

“We want to make the voices of these farmers heard. They are not just victims — they are also a critical part of the solution if we listen to them and support them with the right interventions.”

This first episode paints a vivid picture of the urgent need for climate-resilient agricultural policies, expanded irrigation support, and sustainable financing for smallholder farmers.

The post Amarteykope rice farmers lament impact of climate change first appeared on 3News.

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