Dry weather conditions in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions have put the middle belt agriculture zone in a severe emergency.
A veterinary technologist in Nkoranza in the Nkoranza South Municipal District of the Bono East Region, Williams Marfo , told B&FT that key farming communities, including Nkoranza in the Bono East Region, are currently plagued with fall army worms and black insect invasion which are feeding on crops as a result of the severe dry weather. The situation, he said, has skyrocketed the price of key commodities in the area, including soy, maize among others.
For example, a 100kg bag of cowpea that was sold for GHc1700 in March and April this year currently sells at GH¢2800 due to destruction of crops by these insects, as farmers desire to profit from the few harvests they could salvage.