Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has cut the sod for the construction of the Institute of Rural Development and Innovation Studies (IRDIS) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR).

The IRDIS, slated for completion in July 2025, will replace the Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD).

At the sod-cutting ceremony, which was part of the 58th Congregation of the university, the Provost of CANR, Prof Dadson Awunyo-Vitor, together with the Director of BIRD, Dr (Mrs) Monica Addison, and other senior members of the College, presented the institute's vision for rural development to the Asantehene.

BIRD, one of the leading research units within CANR, has a mission to serve as a bridge between the university and rural communities. The bureau focuses on transferring innovations and services from the university to rural areas to improve the quality of life.

The vision of BIRD is to become a centre of excellence in Africa for research and socio-economic development, offering extension services, research, and consultancy to governments, donors, NGOs, and rural communities across Ghana and the West African sub-region.

BIRD is one of the foremost and leading research departments of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The mission of BIRD is to provide an interface between the university and rural communities. BIRD aims at transferring innovations and other services available at the university to promote rural development which will enhance the quality of life in rural areas.

Additionally, the vision of BIRD is to be a centre par excellence in Africa for research and socio-economic development through the provision of extension, research and consultancy services to government, donors, NGOs and rural communities in Ghana and the West African sub-region.

BIRD conducts comprehensive inter-disciplinary research, training, consultancy and advisory services in rural development. Its high-quality research projects, seminars and publications encompass almost all areas of rural development, rural enterprises development, natural resource management, project planning and management, and a good track record for training, capacity building and rural institutional development.

BIRD has working experience in all the regions of Ghana and is at the forefront of discussions on many contemporary issues related to rural development. BIRD has a reputable interdisciplinary team who are well accomplished in their disciplines.

BIRD has worked with numerous institutions and organizations which include central government ministries, departments and agencies, bilateral and multilateral aid agencies, international academic institutions and non-governmental organizations.

The services offered by BIRD include the following key areas: provision of consultancy services, research and development planning, capacity building and institutional development, gender and development, environment and entrepreneurial development of small and medium scale industries.