The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, has disclosed that farmers in eight regions affected by the ongoing dry spell have incurred losses of approximately GH₵3.5 billion in investment.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, August 26, he further highlighted that these farmers face a potential revenue loss of GH₵10.4 billion.

The affected regions are Bono, Bono East, Oti, Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East, and Upper West regions.

According to him, as of 20th August 435,872 farmers cultivating an estimated area of 871,745 hectares have been directly affected by the dry spell, adding that maize, rice, groundnut, soybean, sorghum, millet and yam are the most widely affected crops across these regions.

“The affected farmers have lost an estimated investment of GHS 3.5 billion with a corresponding potential revenue loss of GHS10.4 billion,” he stated.

He indicated that the dry spell poses a serious threat to food security, as these regions contribute about 62% of Ghana’s grain supply.

Mr Acheampong further stated that preliminary reports indicate that about 928,523 farmers cropping  1,857,000 hectares are at risk, adding that these farmers will lose an estimated investment of GH₵7.4 billion if there is total crop failure.

“The corresponding revenue loss is estimated at GH₵22.2 billion representing 10% of agriculture GDP of GH₵220 billion investment,” he indicated