Northern Ghana is one of the hardest locations in the world for livestock farmers. The climate is incredibly challenging, leading to serious problems. However, a new UK and Ghanaian partnership could provide the solution. The core of this is climate-smart animal feed. We want to have a closer look here because it could solve issues in Ghana and various other parts of the world.

The problem

As we said, Northern Ghana is a very difficult location for farming. The biggest problem is the climate. It results in long dry periods and droughts. Rainfall is hard to predict and can be incredibly erratic.

The climate in this part of Ghana leads to a number of serious problems. Firstly, it means it is incredibly difficult to grow different types of crops, particularly forage. Those that do grow can have compromised nutritional values. As a result, it can be hard for farmers to ensure animals get the right diet, especially in periods when feeds are scarce. This can lead to issues with animal health and productivity. In the worst cases, it means higher mortality rates.

The second issue here is the difficulties growing good forage consistently means many farmers in the region need to pay to import it. That can be a significant cost. It can massively affect household incomes, putting pressure on families.

The solution

The new partnership is between the University for Developed Studies in Ghana and the Food Systems Institute at the University of Nottingham. Together they are looking at ways to overcome the animal feed challenge and improve the agricultural sector in Northern Ghana.

A key part of the partnership is exploration of how to boost forage productivity and availability. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure resilience. The core idea is to explore climate-smart forages. This includes identifying and then farm testing different species, exploring which can offer drought tolerance, high yields, and superior nutritional values.

As well as research and farm testing, the partnership aims to ensure farmers get more training and support. This focuses on key things like choosing the right types of forage and effective processing. Another key thing is the use of data-driven livestock nutrition to make sure animals get the right diets.

If the new partnership is successful, it could massively improve the livestock industry in Northern Ghana. Importantly, it will support smallholders as well as emerging businesses. Even better, it supports Ghana’s broader strategy to create a climate-resilient agricultural sector.

Speak to us about animal feed

The UK has quite a challenging climate, but we’re lucky to not have to deal with the challenges in Northern Ghana. However, it’s still important for farmers to think carefully about forage, particularly what they are growing, yields, and nutritional value. Climate-resilience may become a factor in the future too, especially if we continue to see warmer, drier summers and autumns.

If you do buy animal feed, you can rely on JS Hubbuck Ltd. We’ve been dealing with it for years, so we know how important it is to source quality products. We work with top manufacturers and can give clients the information they need to make informed purchases. Contact us today to learn more.