Peasant Farmers Association call for 10% budget allocation, emergency fund ahead of El Niño

The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has called on the government to establish an Agricultural Emergency Response Fund to protect smallholder farmers from potential losses associated with the expected El Niño weather conditions.

The association’s call comes amid forecasts of severe heat and dry conditions between November 2026 and April 2027, which could expose farmers, particularly in the Northern and Transition zones, to significant water shortages and crop losses.

Experts warn that the conditions could affect agricultural production and drive up food prices across West Africa.

The demand for an emergency fund follows financial difficulties faced by local rice farmers, some of whom reportedly lost investments because of inadequate storage facilities and delays in government support.

Farmer groups have also cited bureaucratic delays between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the Ministry of Finance, particularly in the provision of irrigation infrastructure, as a major obstacle to building resilience in the sector.

To address the potential impact, PFAG is demanding that the government allocate at least 10 per cent of the 2027 national budget to agriculture.

The association’s call aligns with recommendations by international organisations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), for governments to invest in anticipatory measures rather than wait until disasters occur.

Such interventions include developing water-harvesting systems and distributing drought-tolerant, early-maturing seeds to farmers ahead of the expected dry conditions.

PFAG has urged the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to accelerate the distribution of climate-resilient seeds, while warning that funding gaps could undermine efforts to protect farmers and national food security.

Speaking to the media, the association’s Executive Director, Bismark Nortey, said the government needed to move beyond weather forecasts and implement practical measures to minimise the potential impact on farmers.

“We need to set or establish an Agricultural Emergency Response Fund where we can capitalise it and get some money ready, so that when this situation occurs and some farmers are affected, they can easily fall on those funds to provide adequate compensation,” he said.

Mr Nortey proposed a three-phase response involving early preparation, immediate support during a crisis and long-term investment in agricultural resilience.

He said the government should work with relevant agencies to identify vulnerable farming communities, strengthen agricultural extension services and provide farmers with timely climate information in languages they understand.

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