Striga, commonly known as witchweed, is causing up to 60 percent losses in cereal crops in Northern Ghana, with severe infestations capable of wiping out entire farms.
The warning was given by Mr. Sumaila Seidu Saaka, Executive Director of the Forum for Natural Regeneration (FONAR), during a Striga Control Awareness Campaign at Damol-Tindongo in the Nabdam District.
According to him, the parasitic weed poses a serious threat to major crops including sorghum, millet, maize and upland rice.
“Striga starts destroying the crops underground before it comes up. In some cases, farmers can lose 100 percent of their cereal crops,” he said.
The campaign, funded by the Awaken Trees Association of Austria under the Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration for Women’s Empowerment and Livelihoods Project, is part of the Trans-Sahara Project promoting agroforestry and nature-based solutions to climate change.
Mr. Saaka explained that Striga attaches itself to the roots of host crops, siphoning water and nutrients. A single plant can produce between 50,000 and 100,000 seeds, which can remain dormant in the soil for 20 to 30 years.
He said Striga is prevalent across all 15 districts of the Upper East Region, worsened by continuous cereal cultivation without crop rotation.
He urged farmers to adopt integrated control measures including crop rotation, intercropping, and improved soil fertility management, combined with Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration practices.
Some farmers who participated in the training expressed gratitude and pledged to share the knowledge to help reduce infestations and improve yields.
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