At least 200 hectares of orange farm in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region have been destroyed following a long spell of drought.

The area has not experienced rainfall for five months which greatly has caused this recent disaster in the community.

About 40 Citrus Farmers at Konko Community who have been affected say they have lost their investments after contracting loans from the banks to support their farms.

According to some farmers who spoke to Joy News, the level of destructions of orange and oil palm trees has come at a great loss.

The Chairman of Akuapem North Citrus Farmers Association, Stephen Agyemang, explained that the current situation is down to climate change.

“What you are seeing now is the reality of climate change. It is here with us”

The farmers say their only option is to resort to irrigation. According to him, an expert from Ghana Irrigation Development Authority had come to inspect the farm for irrigation.

But he is yet to come back with a report, Stephen Agyemang said. But the farmers find the irrigation prohibitively expensive.

“The cost of one hectare is $6,000. That amount is quite a lot of money. I have 80 acres if citrus farm…you are talking about $480,000”, the farmer indicated.

They are asking for government support the building of the dams through soft loans to enable them to win their livelihood back from the drought.