The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) has organised a field day and demonstration visit for some farmers at Kpalgun in the Tolon District of the Northern Region to introduce some integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) technologies to them.

The various ISFM technologies introduced to the farmers included mineral fertilizer combinations, the use of climate-smart rice varieties such as AGRA and Banse, and good agronomic practices.

The demonstration field at Kpalgun displayed the AGRA rice variety being evaluated with various mineral fertilizer combinations in comparison to the no-input (only improved rice seeds) and the farmers’ practice.

The ISFM initiative on mineral fertilizer combinations also extended to other arable crops including soybeans, groundnuts, cowpeas, and maize.

The field day and visit meant to improve rice yields formed part of a broader effort of the project titled: “Advancing Agriculture through Upscaling of Innovative Soil Health Technologies in Ghana,” funded by AGRA PIATA Consortium.

The project seeks to reach out to several smallholder farmers across 17 districts in the North East, Northern, Upper East, and Upper West Regions.

The project is being implemented by a consortium of three partners namely CSIR-SARI, CSIR-Soil Research Institute in Kumasi, AMYA Agro Plus at Wenchi in the Bono Region, in partnership with the District Departments of Agriculture in the various implementing zones.

It seeks to create at least 200 jobs and reach out to about 50,000 smallholder farmers, each cultivating an average of 12 acres of farmland for the targeted arable crops; cowpea, maize, rice, soybean, and groundnut.

The project is also expected to train 200 extension agents including Village-Based Agriculture Advisors, 50 Scientists, and 100 technicians trained on ISFM and good agricultural practices.

Dr Edwin Akley, Project Manager/Coordinator for CSIR-SARI, speaking during the event, complained about the steady decline in crop yields and soil health over the years.

He said this had made it difficult for farmers to produce abundant food to feed their families and the country.

He said, “The project is being implemented to help enhance crop production, and to improve food and nutrition security.”

Dr Akley said the project was envisioned to empower young people in the agricultural sector and enable them to embrace farming as a profitable business venture to address poverty and unemployment in the country's rural communities.

He said the overall initiative of the field day was not only to display innovative agricultural technologies but also to emphasise the importance of adopting sustainable agricultural practices in addressing challenges like declining crop yields, soil health, and other environmental issues.

Mr Abdul Ganiyu Amidu, Agric Extension Officer for the Kpalgun operational area, said easy access to improved and climate-resilient rice variety would help the farmers boost their production capacity because of the persistent dry spell in the area.

He underscored the need to support farmers with quality farm inputs, capacity building, and training to enable them to take full advantage of the innovative technologies being displayed because of their potential to reduce poverty and improve farmers' livelihoods in the area.

Sulemana Adam, a farmer at Kpalgun, who piloted the variety, encouraged other farmers to embrace it to help maximise their yields and production.

Madam Iddrisu Memunatu, another farmer in the community, said the technologies were laudable initiatives, especially for women adding it would help improve their economic resilience and reduce issues of domestic violence, which were often connected to poverty.