BNARI holds training programme for farmers

The Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), has a held a day’s training programme for 40 farmers in organic farming.

Participants include GAEC Farmers Association, mango and pineapple growers from the Greater Accra and Eastern Regions.

It was organised by BNARI in collaboration with GAEC Technology Transfer and Marketing Centre to educate the farmers on the use of organic fertilizer or compost in organic farming.

The workshop was on the theme: “Nutrient recovery from solid waste management for agriculture soil amendment.”

Professor Kenneth Ellis Danso, Director of BNARI, commended the nation’s farmers for the good work they have being doing.

He explained that the workshop was to equip the farmers do their work well; so as to continue producing healthy food for the nation.

He said BNARI has being using waste products to manufacture organic fertilizers; which has many benefits.

The Director noted that inorganic fertilizers pollutes the water bodies, when rain washes them into water bodies.

He said there had been complains about the quality of vegetables being exported from Ghana to the European Union market; which is of a major concern to stakeholders.

He explained that the workshop would enable participants gain knowledge on safe measures to be practiced to enhance their farming business to generate more income.

Prof Danso cautioned farmers against the misuse of weedicides and pesticides, which release chemicals into the food chain; eventually affecting the health of consumers.

BNARI was established to be Ghana’s leading public institution that provides solutions to challenges in agriculture, health and industry through exploration and exploitation of scientific knowledge in biotechnology and nuclear science.

Mr Alfred Ampomah, a participant and a pineapple farmer from the Eastern Region in an interview with the Ghana News Agency appealed to government to subsidise fertilizers; so that the average farmer can afford.