Koforidua is the capital of the Eastern Region of Ghana. It is in the southern sector of the country and experiences a bimodal rainfall regime. January is normally the month in which minor-season maize is harvested. However, the extended dry spell of weather in 2024 affected farming in most parts of the country; Koforidua was not exempt.
On January 3, there was a slight drizzle, followed by a slight rain shower the following day. After 19 days, we had three rainfalls in quick succession on the 23rd, 26th, and 29th of the month. Farmers’ impression was that the rains came to atone for what was lost in the previous year. Regarding cosmology, the three end-of-month rains were to usher in the new moon.
The rains moistened the land and facilitated the harvesting of root and tuber crops. Leafy vegetables and seedlings are also rejuvenated. On the other hand, the strong winds that accompanied the rains caused the lodging of plantains. While farmers geared up for land preparation for the major season, those in low-lying areas were on the field to prepare the space for early fresh maize and vegetables.
SkyFarm plans to obtain rainfall data from the Meteorological Services Authority for subsequent months.
