CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

From the information presented above, it is clear that current climatic observations point towards further reduction in rainfall in some parts of Northern Ghana, and increase in average temperatures, thus rendering growing season shorter.

Soils of this part of the country are also among the most degraded, with coarse structure, rocky outcrops and are of limited use for agriculture. This is combined with high demographic pressure in some parts of the study area.

It is therefore not surprising that farming systems practised in the region are very much tuned towards full utilisation of the meagre natural resources. They have been developed over the long periods of time, and are adjusted to conserve available assets for agricultural production. Various methods of conservation are used to exploit natural advantages of the particular area, with inter- cropping as an integral part of the famzing practice.

Government policy is currently favourable and conducive for such conservation activities and is embodied in Medium Term Agricultural Development Plan (MTDAP), which is implemented since 1990.

Under this favourable political situation, many indigenous and international non-governmental organisations are engaged in soil and water conservation practices, working alongside farmers at local, district, regional and multi-regional level.

Indigenous fam7ers have remarkable skills in development of suitable soil and water conservation systems, which are site specific, and well tuned to the general environment of the particular area. It is therefore recommended that, in the operation of the various developmental agencies, attention should be paid to all existing systems, to into-operate them in further activities in the area, rather than introducing new methods, unknown to farmers.

General interest and motivation of rural people in the land and water conservation operations is high, as is demonstrated by the high number of local grass-root organisations engaged in such activities in the study area. This interest can go a long way towards development of a long term and sustainable conservation measures, to significantly contribute to the poverty reduction and development of the entire area.

5.0 REFERENCES

Adolph, B., Alhassan, Y., 1993:“Coping with Uncertainty, Challenges for Agricultural

Development in the Guinea Savannah Zone of the Upper West Region, Ghana”, ICRA Working Document Series 28, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Antwi, B.O., Boateng, J.K., 1996:“Survey of Soil and Water Conservation Methods in the Fulo and Bekpong Catchments, Upper West Region, Ghana”, Working Document 1, unpublished, SRI, Kumasi, Ghana.

Atengdem, P.B., Derry, A.B, 1998:“Development and Transitions of Farming Systems in Northern Ghana: a Historical Perspective”, Draft Report, ILEA-NGLWG, unpublished, Bolgatanga, Ghana.

Boateng, E., and Ayamga, T., 1992:“‘Soil and Land Evaluation Studies at Tono-Navrongo, Wiaga, Zuarungu and Manga Agricultural Statons”, IFAF/MoFA/LACOSREP Project Report, unpublished, Bolgatanga, Ghana.

Bonsu, M., and Obeng, H.B., 1979:“Effect of Diff erent Cultural Practices on Soil Degradation in the Sudan Savannah Ecological Zone of Ghana”, Final report, Northern Ghana Savannah Research Project, CSIR/USAID, Accra, Ghana.

Dehl, L., 1984:“Survey of Farming Systems in the Northern Region

qf

Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana, unpublished records.

Ghana Meteorological Services Department, unpublished records.

Ghana National Committee for the International Hydrological Programme, 1993:‘Report on the National Workshop on Climate Change and its Impact on Water, Oceans, Fisheries and Coastal Zones”, WRRI, Accra, Ghana.

Sarris, A., Shams, H., 1991:“Ghana Under Structural Adjustment: the Impact on Agriculture and the Rural Poor”, IFAD Studies in Rural Poverty, No 2, New York, USA.

ISODEC, 199854 documentation of the Members of Northern Ghana Network for Development”, unpublished, Tamale, Ghana.

Kasim Kasanga, R., 1988:“Land Tenure and Development Dialogue: the Myth concerning communal Landholdings in Ghana”, Granta Editions, Cambridge University Press, UK.

Kowal, J.M., Kassam, A.H., 1978:‘Agricultural Ecology of Savannah”, Oxford, UK.

Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana, 1990: “Ghana Medium Term Agricultural

Development Programme. An agenda for Sustained Agricultural Growth and Development (1991-2000) “, Collaborative Research Exploratory Studies, Accra, Ghana.

Ontoyin, Y., 1993:“A Comparative Study of Temperature as a Climate Indicatorforperiods 1931-1960 and 1961-1990”, WRRI, CSIR, Accra, Ghana.

Yelifari, N.B., 1993:“Reliability and Consistency of Rainfall Measurements at Synoptic Stations in Ghana “, Meteorological Services Department, Accra, Ghana.

164

World Bank, 1993”Ghana 2000 and beyond - setting the stage for accelerated growth and poverty reduction “, Economic Report 11486, Washington D.C., USA.

World Bank, 1993:“Implementing the World Bank’s strategy to reduce poverty: Progress and Challenges”, Washington D.C., USA.

EFFECTS OF METEOROLOGICAL PARAMETERS ON SAHELIAN DROUGHT _ NORTH AFRICA

Dr. Abdelazeem M. Abdelmegeed

Professor of Atmospheric Physics ,Physics Dept. , Faculty of Science ,South Valley University Qena - Egypt. Fax: 002 / 096 / 211279 , E mail : abdelazeem39@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT

The present trial has attempted to study the productive- mechanism of the Sahelian drought. An illustration of the desiccation of the region since the late 1960s is visualized from the Sahel record. Potential factors that can drive drought such as : climate pattern of the Sahel in context of global warming , inter-tropical convergence zone(lTCZ), summer monsoon , sea surface temperatures (SSTs),easterly waves and hurricanes, El Nino / Southern Oscillation (ENSO) ,and land degradation have been explained. It is concluded that the drought is a natural and inevitable event. Moreover, it is warning sign to the global warming. The rainy season in the Sahel occurs mostly during summer months from June to September when ITCZ reaches its farthest northward extension . Also in this period the pressure difference between land and surrounding oceans triggers humid air to rain inland. Parameters that block summer monsoon role have been shown. SSTs explain drought occurrence in the Sahel ,but they are not the singular culprit which cause drought. ENS0 events represent a chief factor as drought producer in this region. Also easterly waves have significant part that determine dry and wet conditions . Land degradation has been explained as drought cause through changing the albedo . Finally, suggestions aim at drought management and reducing of its consequences have been recommended.

166

INTRODUCTION