A subsistence farmer in Ghana finds a way to get her rain back

Faustina Amponsah in her farm, holding a seedling. (Michael Mfum/ bird story agency)

Despite the lack of rainfall in a once bountiful region, Faustina Amponsah shows off a lush nursery of tree seedlings on her farm plot in Faaman, a rural farming community in Bono East, Ghana. When a changing climate affected her farming activities, she turned to local organisations to reclaim her livelihood.

“We have received seedlings from EcoCare Ghana to plant to help restore the destroyed forests in the area. When the trees grow, I believe it will increase the rain pattern. The seedlings are free and we are planting them. This will go a long way to improve our farming activities,” Amponsah explained eagerly.

Amponsah lives in the transitional region of Ghana. In the past, the region supported intense crop cultivation due to favourable rainfall patterns and its forest/savannah surroundings. Of late, however, communities like hers have been significantly affected by climate change.