**1. Introduction**

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is at the center of the threats posed by climate change to agriculture due to production challenges such as low uses of technology and irrigation, slow progress in drought risk management, and land degradation. The poor economic performance and prospects of many countries in the sub-region are related to the constraints to agricultural production [1]. These challenges have a huge impact on agricultural productivity [2]. Food insecurity caused by crop failures is growing rapidly in many SSA countries, leading to famine, and environmental and financial crises, which can undermine the region's commitment to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, especially SDG 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere and SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture [3].

Similar to many countries in SSA, agriculture is the main source of livelihood for millions of people in Ghana, providing the food and economic needs of rural and urban households. Agricultural production is predominantly structured on a smallholding basis, characterized by low input and low technology use, high rain-dependence and a low adoption of irrigation. The total arable land under irrigation in Ghana is reported to be less than 2% [4]. Thus, the over-dependence on rainfall for agriculture in Ghana exposes production to rainfall and its variability.

Maize (*Zea mays*, L.) is an important crop grown in Ghana, occupying over one million hectares, and constituting 50–60% of the country's cereal production. Maize is grown in almost every part of the country, but the major growing regions are the Forest–Savannah transition zone, accounting for more than 80% of the total maize grains produced in Ghana [5]. Maize grains are a major staple for many households, an ingredient for poultry

**Citation:** Obour, P.B.; Arthur, I.K.; Owusu, K. The 2020 Maize Production Failure in Ghana: A Case Study of Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality. *Sustainability* **2022**, *14*, 3514. https://doi.org/10.3390/ su14063514

Academic Editor: Emanuele Radicetti

Received: 21 January 2022 Accepted: 2 March 2022 Published: 17 March 2022

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feed and an important industrial commodity in Ghana. While its production provides the economic livelihood for millions of smallholder farmers in the country [6], the crop is frequently affected by rainfall variability. Frequent maize crop failures could potentially affect farmers' incomes, make them vulnerable to poverty, and worsen nationwide food insecurity.

Given the enormous importance of maize to Ghana's economy, both government and non-governmental interventions have been implemented over the last three decades to improve maize grain production. Examples of government programs to improve maize yield include fertilizer subsidies, mechanization, and buffer stock schemes, as well as increased tariffs on the importation of maize grains. From 1979 to 1997, and 2000 to 2008, the Ghana Grains Development Project and the Food Crops Development Project, respectively, introduced and encouraged the cultivation of early maturing, drought-tolerant and high-yielding maize varieties. In addition to the government's efforts, non-governmental organizations such as Masara N'Arzikialso provided inputs into credit and extension services to improve yield.

Despite the efforts to improve maize yield, challenges such as fall armyworm (*Spodoptera frugiperda*) infestation and extreme rainfall events have debilitated productivity in recent years. For instance, in 2016, a severe El Niño led to a drastic reduction in maize yield [7]. Similarly, between late 2020 and the middle of 2021, Ghana went through a serious maize grain crisis emanating from the 2020 minor season crop failure. The phenomenon led to shortages and spikes in the prices of maize grains and maize-based animal feeds. Moreover, the shortage led to an increase in maize grain prices on the local market, which affected household food security and the national economy at large. What we know is that extreme weather events may be the underlying cause of maize crop failure, but the frequency and severity of the impacts are unclear. This study sought to answer the following questions: (i) Why are crop failures becoming so frequent in recent years? (ii) What can be done to build the resilience of smallholder maize farmers in Ghana? The study aims to better understand the drivers of frequent maize production failures, which will be an important step towards establishing robust interventions to mitigate future crop failures in Ghana.
