Experts Deliberate on how to Manage Dry Spells in Gulf of Guinea Countries

Water deficits related to the expected longer dry spells after the onset of the rainy season in southern parts of Cote d’lvoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin and towards the end of the rainy season over the entire bimodal zone of Gulf of Guinea countries could affect crop growth and favor the development of insect pests, a communiqué issued at the end of a Seasonal Forecasting workshop on Agro-hydro-climatic Characteristics for the Gulf of Guinea Countries [PRESA-GG] has said.

The expected average to below average flows, especially in the San-Pedro, Densu, Lac-Togo and Oueme basins according to the communiqué could also lead to insufficient water supplies for major hydraulic infrastructures like hydroelectric dams, irrigation and urban water supply.

As a result of above mentioned situation, it recommended, a diversification of agricultural practice through the promotion of irrigation, market gardening and agroforestry in order to reduce the risk of production deficits in areas exposed to long dry spell.

It urged farmers to adopt soil water conservation cultivation techniques, favor crop species and varieties that are tolerant to water deficit, strengthen vigilance against crop pests like armyworm and other harmful insects, ensure the rational management of water resources to meet the needs of hydroelectric dams and other important hydro-agricultural infrastructure not forgetting interaction with experts from the national meteorological and agricultural extension agencies for agro-hydro-meteorological information and advice.

With regards to flood risks, the communiqué said, given the expected average rainfall amount in some regions, floods are very likely especially in the river basins where above average flows are expected. To reduce the risks for people and property, it called for the communications of results of seasonal forecasts and raise awareness among vulnerable communities by involving the various disaster risk reduction platforms in the communication and crisis management chain.

It further called for the prevention of uncontrolled occupation of flood prone zones particularly in urban areas, strengthen the monitoring and intervention capacities of the agencies in charge of disaster risk reduction and humanitarian aid as well as ensure the availability of stocks of medicines in areas that are difficult to access in case of floods.

Regular cleaning of drainage channels and simulation exercise in preparation for floods according to the communiqué should be carried out.

On health risks, it says, to reduce the risk of water-related diseases like cholera, malaria, dengue fever, diarrhea among others in wet or flooded areas, it recommended awareness creation on climate-sensitive diseases in collaboration with meteorological, hydrological and health services.

Vaccination of populations and animals, use of mosquito nets, build stock of anti-malaria drugs including water treatment products, regular monitoring for water quality per the communiqué should be adhere to. It also called for the capacity of national health systems and disaster risk reductions platforms to be reinforced.

On exploiting opportunities, the communiqué stated that, early onset of the rainy season and above average river flows are likely to occur in areas where average or above average rainfall are prevalent. It therefore recommended to farmers to explore the possibilities of extending flood recession cropping and fish farming including the promotion of techniques to increase agricultural production through fertilizer application and the choice of high-yielding crop varieties.

It further recommended to all stakeholders from the different sectors to closely monitor the forecast updates that will be issued by Agricultural Hydrology Meteorological regional centre, African Center for Meteorological Applications to Development [ACMAD] and the national meteorological and hydrological services throughout the season.

The 2020 PRSAGG forum was organized by the Agricultural Hydrology Meteorological Centre [AGRHYMET] of CILSS and the Ghana National Meteorological and Hydrological agencies in collaboration with the ACMAD and experts from the Guinea Gulf countries in charge of producing agro-hydro-climatic information.

The forum was attended by representatives of the Ghana National Disaster Management Organization [NADMO], ECOWAS Commission and the financial and technical partners of CILLS.

Source: Adovor Nutifafa

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