Oxfam has warned of a worsening state of hunger in the last quarter of the year in the three Northern Regions.

The international aid agency has attributed the dire phenomenon to the low rainfall experienced this year which has culminated into low yields.

This came to light at a round table discussion organized by Oxfam and its partners on the enhanced livelihood security through climate adaptation learning project.

Oxfam is working in partnership with the Partners in Rural Empowerment and Development in the East Mamprusi District in the Northern Region, ProNet North in Nadowli District and Nandom Denary integrated Development program in Nandom district all in the Upper West regions and the Presbyterian Agric Station-Garu in the Upper East Region to ameliorate the state of hunger in the Northern Regions.

In all, 3000 farmers in 16 communities were supported to ensure food security in the face of climate change.

The project focused on capacity building within communities to ensure sustainable food security and to encourage innovative solution in the context of climate change.

The farmers were trained and sensitized through workshops, engagement in policy influencing processes through district food security networks peer network, among others.

The project also provided the farmers with diversified source of livelihood like dry seasonal gardening, increased extraction of shea butter, training in animal rearing, marketing enterprise development, management and village savings and loans schemes.

Country director for Oxfam Sebastian Tiah said five percent of the country’s population were food insecure whilst the World Food Programme projects it at 16 percent for the three Northern Ghana but Mr Tiah believes the figure could be about 30 percent if correlated with the current poverty situation of the people in the north.

He said harvest had been reduced and the ability of families to feed all year had also been compromised hence the need to look at ways to make food available and affordable to all.

On the effect of climate change on the three Northern Regions Mr Tiah said the poor would be hit the hardest if government and stakeholders do not act immediately.

He therefore called for a direct and conscious effort by government and partners to invest in water systems for farmers, drought resistant and short maturing seeds,  invest in information, supporting value chain and access market for farmers.