I don’t think I would have ever believed I would be in a town that was in a famine. However because of the wonder of global warming – Bolgatanga has found itself to be nearly there. The people here live off their land, and mostly work as farmers. The grain, millet, corn, vegetables etc is then harvested and traded in town at the market or used for the family.
Again I reiterate… because of global warming – the rainy season has not yet come, it is about a month late. Normally at this time it will be raining daily and the crops will all be about 1 metre high, but our reality is the rain is very sporadic, the crops are only 1 cm (if that) and the land is as dry as a raisin.
To be honest for me the rain is a bit of a hassle, it means I can’t bicycle around and will be late to work, but for families this is an absolute tragedy, it means they simply cannot survive; their kids will only eat one meal a day, (that is plain rice), and the family will not have food. Even NGO’s have to go into preparation mode for this disaster, when normally they work in preventing poverty, and strengthening communities, now they have to find a way to support those in extreme poverty, with no food, to live. In fact Oxfam sent an emergency email out to raise funds as this is happening right throughout Africa.
Also because of the drought there is no fresh vegetables….none! Seriously, I haven’t eaten a vegetable for over a month now. Ok…… I exaggerate (slightly) I have had a yam, an onion, and maybe garlic …… that’s it! I’m craving vegetables….i dream of salad, courgette, brocolli, asparagus….sigh.
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