Cashew farmers in the Techiman North District of the Brong-Ahafo Region have voiced concerns over the frequent bushfire outbreaks in the area, which are severely disrupting their agricultural activities.
Members of the Kroye Farmers Association blame the actions of hunters, Fulani herdsmen, and palm wine tappers for the ongoing bushfires. They are calling for stronger, decisive measures to address the issue.
The Association, which has 609 members, has appealed to the Techiman North District Assembly to introduce local laws and establish bushfire committees to enforce a ban on group hunting and regulate the activities of Fulani herdsmen to prevent fire outbreaks.
Nana Yaw Debrah, Chairman of the Association, made the appeal during a stakeholders’ sensitization workshop held in Tuobodom, the district’s capital. The workshop was organized by the Association with support from the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC Fund), along with its partners — the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the European Union (EU), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The workshop, which was attended by traditional leaders, assembly members, and representatives from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), and the Ghana National Fire Service, aimed to identify and address challenges affecting farmers’ economic activities.
Nana Debrah expressed disappointment that bush burning had become an annual problem, negatively impacting the predominantly farming community. He stressed the need for a bushfire bye-law to enforce restrictions on group hunting and regulate how farmers and palm wine tappers handle fire in the fields.
Mr. Isaac Adaebsah, Secretary of the Association, explained that the district is known for large-scale cashew production. However, bushfires pose a significant threat, with three out of every ten cashew farms being destroyed annually. He noted that these recurring fires are discouraging young people from pursuing cashew farming, and called on the District Assembly and other relevant agencies to take proactive steps to control bushfires.
Mr. Adaebsah also praised BUSAC and its partners for their support and encouraged farmers to create firebreaks around their farms to help prevent fires from spreading.
