{
  "id": 18473632,
  "title": "MoFA develops strategy to mitigate El Niño impact on agriculture",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/mofa-develops-strategy-to-mitigate-el-nino-impact-on-agriculture",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-06T08:59:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ghana Business News",
    "slug": "ghana-business-news",
    "url": "https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2026/11/06/mofa-develops-strategy-to-mitigate-el-nino-impact-on-agriculture/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) is creating a national response plan to counter the impact of a potentially severe El Niño event on Ghana's agricultural sector, according to the Ghana News Agency (GNA). Head of Public Affairs at MoFA, Mr. Osei-Opoku Gyamfi, revealed this to the GNA. The plan aims to enhance agricultural preparedness, build resilience, and reduce potential disruptions to crop production and livestock farming, especially in areas prone to prolonged dry spells. The strategy will be finalized soon and complement existing interventions to protect farming activities from the effects of the climate phenomenon. The Ministry will announce the specific measures once the plan is complete. The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has advised seven government ministries, including Agriculture, Health, Energy, Water Resources, Local Government, and Finance, to cooperate and take coordinated action to mitigate the potential effects of the upcoming El Niño. GMet issued a technical advisory in October 2026, stating that the tropical Pacific is experiencing a very strong and intensifying El Niño, with a 96% probability of reaching very strong intensity between November 2026 and January 2027. This period is critical for Ghana, with forecasts indicating hotter and drier conditions, water scarcity, bushfires, and increased dust in several regions. These conditions could negatively affect crop yields, livestock production, and the livelihoods of farmers, particularly in vulnerable communities in the northern and transitional zones. GMet has suggested that MoFA prioritize the availability of drought-resistant and early-maturing seeds to help farmers sustain production under reduced rainfall. The Agency also recommends expanding irrigation and water harvesting facilities, as well as strengthening national food and seed reserves to improve the country's ability to manage potential production shortages. For the cocoa sector, GMet has called for enhanced monitoring of growing areas and targeted agricultural extension support, including improved shade management and disease control, to assist farmers in adapting to the anticipated climatic conditions. Ghana has previously experienced El Niño events in 1982/83, 1997/98, 2015/16, and a moderate event in 2023/24. While GMet warns that the severity and geographical distribution of the anticipated impacts remain uncertain, as they would also depend on conditions in the tropical Atlantic Ocean, the organization stresses the need for a comprehensive and coordinated response to the potential challenges posed by the upcoming El Niño.",
  "summary": "The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) is developing a national response strategy to mitigate the anticipated effects of a very strong El Niño event on agricultural production and farmers’ livelihoods. The post MoFA develops strategy to mitigate El Niño impact on agriculture appeared first on Ghana Business News .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}