BUSH FIRE THREAT TO CASHEW FARMING, CROPS FARMING, GREEN GHANA TREE PLANTING SEEDLINGS SUPPLIED AND FARMER MANAGED NATURAL REGENERATION (FMNR) SITES BY OUR DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS IN WEST GONJA MUNICIPAL IN SAVANNAH REGION. – NORGIID-GHANA .
Bush fires are one of the major causes of deforestation in Ghana today in the dry semi- deciduous Savannah zone. Fires have caused increasing economic and ecological damage in the past twenty years as a result of changing climatic regimes and an alternation in human activities in rural environments. Fires are most common during the dry season, from November to March and are now an anticipated annual occurrence in the forest- Savannah transition zone. Recent increases in the frequency of fires has compounded problems with forest conservation in the Savannah Region.
The main causes of fire are farmers (using fire to clear their land without due caution), hunters ( who use fire to smoke out animals), smokers, wild bee harvesters( who trade involves the use of fire) and people who cook on their farms during dry season. The physical, economic and social consequences of fire are severe and include a reduction in crop yields, reduced labour demand, lower income, health problems and environmental destruction. These effects all serve to retard the development of farming communities in West Gonja Municipal in Savannah Region of Ghana and hinder attempts to conserve forest lands. Each year, Ghana loses an estimated 4% of it’s GDP to wildfire. By working to restore the natural forest cover and subsequently protecting it from fire it is thought that the impact of fires can be greatly reduced and the related climatic and environmental deterioration will cease.
Founder and Executive Director of Northern Ghana Integrated Initiatives for Development LBG ( NORGIID – GHANA), World Vision EU LEAN project of West Gonja Landscape Management Board, General Secretary and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) ENHANCE PROJECT of Environmental Working Group member, Mr. Sumani Iddrisu has identified bushfires as a thread to the survival of cashew farming, crops farming, Green Ghana Tree planting seedlings supplied to beneficiaries and Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) sites initiatives by our development partners in West Gonja Municipal in the Savannah Region.
According to him, bushfires can destroy large acres cashew farms, crops farms, Green Ghana Tree planting seedlings supplied sites and Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) sites by our development partners within few minutes, and so small holder farmers, Green Ghana Tree planting seedlings supplied to beneficiaries and Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) beneficiaries should be educated on the need to halt bushfires. He emphasized that bushfires is a problem in the area of investment in tree crops and other crops establishment in West Gonja Municipal in the Savannah Region.
In order to help address above bushfires situation in West Gonja Municipal, Northern Ghana Integrated Initiatives for Development LBG ( NORGIID- GHANA) will be collaborating with NGOs and agencies to undertake awareness creation in the area of bush fires, causes of bush fires and possible solutions for bush fires to cashew farmers, crops farmers, Green Ghana Tree planting seedlings supplied to beneficiaries, and communities practicing Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) sites by World Vision EU LEAN project, CRS ENHANCE PROJECT, ETC. through radio discussions in local languages, Durbars, and role plays to combat the spread of bushfires in the Savannah Region.
For more information
Contact the project officer of NORGIID – GHANA on 024 384 4627 .
