Food safety circumstances in northern Ghana, associated constraints and coping strategies

Abstract

This paper looks at the food security situation in three most deprived and poverty-stricken regions in 
the Northern parts of Ghana and examines how farmer households cope during food insecure periods. 
The study concludes that although farmers in these regions cultivate purposely for household 
consumption and sell the surplus, food was not available throughout the year in the farmer households 
interviewed. On the average staple foods produced lasted for seven months. Coping mechanisms 
during months of inadequate household food provision included migration to southern Ghana for wage 
labor, support from relatives and friends outside the regions, sales from livestock and household 
valuables as well as reduction of food intake and consumption of less preferred food. Erratic rainfall 
patterns, high cost of agrochemicals, lack of knowledge on improved farming and post harvest 
practices as well as lack of production credit and markets for farm produce were some of the 
constraints militating against increased production and improvement in food security. Measures to 
remove these constraints will therefore go a long way to improve the household food security situation 
in Northern Ghana.