SARI 2009 Annual Report

2009

English

The year under review was one of immense activity for all of us associated with CSIR-SARI. Several major projects were at or approaching the end of their first phase and new projects were coming on board. It was the start of an exciting and busy year in the Institute’s history that launched us into a substantial financial support through AGRA to implement new projects. In furtherance of the mandate to conduct agricultural research as it relates to food and fibre crop farming in the three northern regions of Ghana, the Institute recorded various degrees of success in the implementation of programmes and projects. These achievements are captured under the section: Scientific Support Group, Northern Region Farming Systems Research Group, Upper West Region Farming Systems Research Group and Upper East Farming Systems Research Group. In pursuit of the objective of moving away from hazardous and expensive insecticides, plant-based products continued to be an integral part of our work on IPM in managing insect pests in the region. Five improved rice varieties namely Gbewaa, Nabogu, Katanga, NERICA 1 and NERICA 2 were released during the year. These varieties were developed to address the constraints of low yield potentials of existing varieties, susceptibility to lodging, leaf blast and brown spot and terminal drought which militate against increased and sustained rice production and productivity. These varieties have the potential to increase significantly the level of rice production from 15-50% and income of rice producers. The Institute presented three entries for the ICT Competition to climax the CSIR Golden Jubilee Celebration on 21st December, 2009 which were adjudged to have won awards in their various categories. We cannot conclude this message without mention of the Emergency Rice Initiative Project with the objective to boost total domestic rice production. This Initiative was aimed at improving farmers’ access to quality rice seed and fertilizer and expanding knowledge on best-bet rice technologies. With funding from the USAID, the project reached out to 12,635 farmers in 27 districts in the three northern regions and increased paddy production by 28,663 tons. These farmers gained access to best-bet rice technologies through on-the-job training and videos on rice technologies. Rural radio and TV broadcasts on these technologies were also used to reach other farmers not directly involved in the project. Last but not least, a word of thanks to government, donors, farmers and research collaborators through whose support it managed to record its achievements. It is our hope and expectation that the coming year will be a more fulfilling and successful one to enable the scientists to continue to make even greater strides in helping to provide answers to the many challenges that farmers face in the region. We hope that you will enjoy reading this Report with as much pleasure as it gives us to present the CSIR-SARI Annual Report 2009 to you.

CSIR-SARI