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Company News of Friday, April 12, 2019
Source: Graphic.com.gh
2019-04-12
Mohammed Ibn Chambas (right) briefs reporters while Dr. Akoto (left) looks
The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, is advocating the campaign for a new technology to improve rice production in the country and on the African continent.
Known as the Rice Intensification System (SRI), this smallholder-based technology has the potential to double or even triple rice production in the country.
How it works
Unlike the usual system of farmers dispersing rice seeds, the new technology is to treat seeds that are then transplanted to the field.
The technology, developed by Professor Norman Uphoff, a renowned researcher at Cornell University, has been successfully adopted by Malian rice farmers.
Mr. Chambas, promoter of technology in Africa, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, last Wednesday in his office, to propose him the 39, idea of new technology.
After an in camera meeting, Drs Chambas and Akoto informed the journalists of their discussion, which focused on examining the new technology to boost rice production under the Plant for Food and Employment program ( PFJ).
Impact of technology
Mr. Akoto was pleased with the discussions he had with Mr. Chambas and said that this technology would boost rice production under the PFJ program.
He added that the meeting had also focused on the measures taken by the government to ensure food sufficiency in the country, especially with regard to rice production, and also expressed interest in the technology that could be used. prove advantageous for small farmers.
Rice production
Akoto lamented that the country imported USD 1.5 billion worth of rice in 2017, while Ghana had enough land and water for rice.
For example, he said that in the forest areas of Ashanti, Bono, Central, Volta and East regions, there were perfect soils for rice cultivation and that when production increased in these regions, the country could feed all Africa.
"Unfortunately, Ghana has done nothing with this attribute which gives it the advantage of feeding Africa with rice," he said.
Why rice is in the PFJ
Akoto said the government was not happy that the country was importing so much rice. That's why "rice has become one of five crops chosen for the program" Plant for food and create jobs ".
He described the importation of rice into Africa as a threat that must be of concern to the regional community.
Teacher. Uphoff
For his part, Dr Chambas described the country's efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency as "huge" compared to other countries on the continent.
He described Professor Uphoff as a mentor, whose research on rice was aimed at small-scale rice farmers.
"He is a renowned researcher in the field of rice cultivation, especially for small-scale rice farmers, particularly to help them achieve higher yields and efficiency and to increase their income in order to improve their means. of subsistence.
"His work is in line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, which target the poorest sections of the population," said Dr. Chambas.
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