Tamale, Ghana, September 14, 2023 – CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) continues its commitment to knowledge sharing and innovation with its weekly field visits. Staff members and interns of CSIR-SARI embarked on an enlightening field visit to its research fields just a 20-minute drive from the Institute.
The objective of these field visits is to provide a platform for CSIR-SARI scientists to showcase their groundbreaking research and trials to both their peers and the general public. This Thursday’s field visit featured three prominent scientists, Dr. Ophelia Asirifi Amoako, an Agronomist, Dr. Abdul Latif Abdul Aziz, a Soil Microbiologist and Dr. Jerry Nboyine, an Entomologist each working diligently on different crops and research activities. Overseeing the field visit was Dr. Richard Oteng-Frimpong, the Chairman of the field visit committee.
The first stop on the field visit was Dr. Ophelia’s research field, where an array of maize and leguminous plants greeted the visitors. Dr. Ophelia commenced her presentation by highlighting the cultivation of various soybean varieties, which, interestingly, exhibited negligible yield differences. Notably, the participants lauded Dr. Ophelia for maintaining a pristine and well-kept farmland.
Next on the itinerary was Dr. Latif’s research field, boasting a rich cultivation of soybean and maize. Dr. Latif began by emphasizing the significance of soybean as a cash crop and its role in enhancing household nutrition due to its protein content. He detailed the presence of three distinct soybean varieties – Favour, Afayak, and Jenguma – on his farmland. Furthermore, Dr. Latif elucidated the challenges related to maize production, including low soil nutrient levels and suboptimal fertilizer application. He highlighted a promising collaboration with the African Plant Institute, which provided fertilizers yielding remarkable results, piquing the curiosity of local farmers.
The final leg of the field visit led the participants to Dr. Jerry’s expansive groundnut farmland. Dr. Jerry commenced his presentation with an insightful quote: “You can have the best seed, but without proper production practices, achieving the desired yield is challenging.” Unlike traditional practices, Dr. Jerry and his team applied leguminous fertilizers to their groundnuts, which significantly aided in pest management.
After nearly three hours of knowledge sharing, the CSIR-SARI staff members and interns returned to their organization’s premises, invigorated by the wealth of agricultural expertise witnessed during the field visit. These weekly excursions continue to be a testament to CSIR-SARI’s commitment to advancing agricultural science and addressing food security challenges in Ghana and beyond.