The Upper East Regional Directorate of Food and Agriculture says it is exploring the option of popularizing the planting of short duration crop varieties, to stem the likelihood of a serious famine hitting the region due to lack of rains. Although the season for the planting of crop plants is due, the area has not had rains for several months now. This is making farmers hesitant to plant their crops, and some of those who planted have lost their produce. The farmers, who say they are “not in a good mood”, told Joy News correspondent Albert Soree the situation is frustrating because “the rain is very disappointing”. “Most of our farmers who are aware of the floods normally do plant early in order to harvest their foodstuffs before the floods come in; in this case it is a complete failure,” says Osman Bawa Issaka, the Agric extension officer for the Pawlugu area. According to Mr. Bawa Issaka, “the whole of June we had no good rains, we are in July now and we are not seeing any good rains”. Meanwhile, Upper East Regional Director of Food and Agriculture, Cletus Achamps encouraged farmers to plant improved varieties that can mature within a short period, to help deal with the problem. Mr. Achamps insists they have no other option than to look forward to the rains for a complete solution, because extending irrigational facilities to all farmers is not feasible.