Examining the effects of desertification on food security among female-headed households in the Garu and Tempane Districts of Ghana.

Abstract

Desertification is one of the serious environmental problems that pose a threat to the food security of people in the affected areas of the world. It is said to be consuming the Sahel-Sudan savannah transitional zone of the Upper East Region of Ghana at an alarming rate, thereby undermining livelihood support systems as well as threatening the food security of the area. This study sought to examine the impact of desertification on food security among female-headed households and their coping strategies in the Garu and Tempane districts in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The specific objectives were: to explore the awareness of desertification among female-headed households in the Garu and Tempane districts, to investigate the dimensions of food security (physical availability, access, utilisation, and stability) among female-headed households in the Garu and Tempane districts, to examine the effects of desertification on food security among female-headed households in the Garu and Tempane districts and to explore female-headed households’ coping mechanisms with food insecurity. The study was guided by qualitative research. It was established based on the findings that desertification in the Garu and Tempane districts of Ghana contributes to making female-headed households’ food insecure. This conclusion is borne out of the fact that food insecurity among female-headed households is high. It is therefore recommended that there should be policies and programmes rolling out for FHHs in the districts to train them on integrated soil fertility improvement practices, and the government flagship programme Planting for Food and Jobs as well as the fertiliser subsidy should intentionally target the FHHs at the community level.