Researchers, other actors meet to dialogue on technologies to sustain productivity in the agriculture sector

Feed the Future Ghana Market Systems and Resilience (MSR) Activity together with CSIR-SARI has organized a two-day research pipeline workshop in tamale.

The workshop targets researchers, seed companies, outgrower businesses, agro-input dealers and agro-processors among others.

The aim of the workshop was for the stakeholders to dialogue on advancing research and technology to sustainably improve productivity.

It was also to create a platform for SARI, selected innovation labs, and other technology providers to share innovative aspects of their work in the agricultural space.

Making a presentation at the program, a Team Lead of Component Two at MSR Activity, Musah Tailor said MSR Activity represents opportunities for 17 districts from the Northern, North East, Upper East and Upper West regions to “address major challenges of fragmented markets, low participation of youth, women and marginalized populations. “

He said “the project spans from 2022-2027, with a budget of $35.9 million and targets participation of about 200,000 individuals in food security programming. “

“It also anticipates to improve application of management practices technologies for at least 200,000 individuals. it also anticipates to increase value of producers’ and firms’ annual sales by a minimum of $183,000,000, adding that it will aim to improve accessibility of at least $18,500,000 worth of agriculture-related financing among others”, he added.

According to him, the MSR Activity is “working with implementing partners to increase inclusive agriculture-led economic growth in northern Ghana by strengthening supply chain relationships among producers, buyers, traders and service providers to encourage farmers and other market actors to adopt improved climate smart agriculture practices, increase access to, and use quality inputs, mechanization, irrigation, extension services and business information.”

A Team Lead of Component Four of MSR, Samson Konlan said the workshop was to identify some constraints faced by researchers and farmers in their line of duties.

He said it was also to bridge the gap between when seeds are developed and when they can be commercialized for use by small holder farmers.

“We had one last year that really brought up some issues that we thought would be important for us to scale it up this year. SARI has a research pipeline and what this means is that we have developed some very good varieties that would be made available to farmers but for one reason or the other because of maybe certification processes or maybe the lack of facilitation to have this reach the small holder farmers is not happening. So by bringing these stakeholders together farmers together they would be able to identify the constraints then we can work together, whether at the institutional level or maybe the policy level so that we can have these seeds available to farmers at the right time “. He said

A maize breeder at SARI, Isaac Kojo Amegbor said they are working to address the needs and concerns of farmers as well as other actors along the main maize value chain.

“Our primary focus is on yield , however we are incorporating other tricks of interest. So we have worked on several products so far where we try to develop varieties that are highly yielding at the same time”, he said

“So we focus on four maturity groups. So with the early and extra early, they mature in less than 95 days and those that are medium and late they mature in 110 days and above” he added.

Story By: Alhassan Imoro |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.