CRI steps up technology transfer to farmers

Kumasi, Oct. 20, GNA - The Crop Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has stepped up technology transfer to root and tuber farmers as part of its efforts at promoting national food security.

This involves field visits and training workshops for selected farmers and processors.

Dr Felix Annor-Nyako, Technical Specialist for Crop and Horticultural Programme, said this was being done under the World Bank funded West African Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP).

WAAPP is a 10-year project designed to boost research into selected crops across the West African sub-region for increased crop yield and production.

Ghana, Senegal and Mali under the phase one of the project, which took off four years ago, are specializing in the production of root and tuber crops, maize and rice, respectively, where they have comparative advantage.

Addressing a two-day sensitization workshop for 40 farmers and agro food processors drawn from all over the country at Fumesua in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality, Dr Annor-Nyako, said the objective was also to help them to add more value to their crops.

He said it provided the platform to among other things educate the participants on the WAAPP, share experiences, expose them to research findings and enhance farmer-to-farmer technology transfer.

They would also be taken through soil fertility management, integrated nutrients management system for yam production and up-scaling of cassava/legume intercropping.

Dr Annor-Nyako said a multi-purpose ultra-modern research centre was already under construction at the CRI to serve as a research centre.

The Director of CRI, Mr Hans Adu-Dappah, advised the participants to take the workshop seriously and to heed the advice of extension officers, to boost their yields.

A yam farmer at Ejura, Opanin Kwaku Manu, said the introduction of WAAPP has resulted in significant crop yield.