Savana Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) in collaboration with Wenchi Agricultural Research station in the Bono region, has organised a green field day for maize farmers in Wenchi.

The field demonstration is part of the Nutrient-Catalysed Agricultural Transformation (NUTCAT) project to show maize farming management practices that will increase farmers’ productivity. 

The Nutrient-Catalyzed Agricultural Transformation project is a collection of research and training programs focused on improving precision nutrient management in Africa.

NUTCAT is a simple experimental design with small farm – scale plots of a hectare, divided into two treatments which are Optimised Treatment (OT) and Farmers’ Practice (FP). 

Optimised Treatment is the combination of practices that would produce attainable yield, while Farmers’ Practice is the usual practices farmers deploy in the area. 

A Senior Research Fellow at the Savana Agriculture Research Institute (SARI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIRI), Dr Muntari Abubarkari, said the project is running in nine counties including Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, Cote d’ Ivoire and Togo. 

He stated that SARI is the implementing partner in Ghana, and they are working with Wenchi Agricultural Research Station in the Bono region to help maize farmers to embrace the new crop management system.

Dr Abubakari encouraged farmers to adhere to the appropriate land preparation, planting and harvesting methods to increase production.

The Head of the Wenchi Agricultural Research Station, Sylvester De-Clercq Mensah, noted that the project will enable the farmers to go into intensive agriculture to enhance the productivity of their fields.

He said, ''We aim at helping farmers to understand the issue of capturing value, not necessarily expanding their land size but focusing on ensuring that they maintain whatever they are doing but apply the right methods to enhance the productivity of the field''.

 ‘‘We have noticed that sometimes it is not the type of crop that is to be used but the practices that the farmers are applying to the crops, so this field day is to showcase the best management practices that the farmers must adopt,’’ he said.

He encouraged farmers in the country to embrace the new crop management system because the issues are changing.

Mr Mensah stressed the world today has evolved, hence the need for farmers to maximise production and feed the nation.

He added, ''We are also calling on all farmers and agriculture stakeholders to come on board so that together we can make crop farming business an enjoyable and a profitable venture for all’’.

The NUTCAT project is being implemented in the Northern, North East, Savana and Bono regions, with four demonstration sites in each region.