By Albert Futukpor, GNA
Nyankpala (N/R), Aug. 24, GNA – The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) has begun conducting field trials on maize, soybean and groundnut, to assess the effectiveness of a seed-treatment bio-stimulant under local growing conditions.
The move seeks to evaluate KANEKA, a bio-stimulant, developed by KANEKA Corporation of Japan, for its potential to support crop establishment, improve nutrient uptake and enhance tolerance to environmental stress.
About 60 farmers from Kpalsogu, Tingoli and Cheshegu communities attended a field day at the CSIR-SARI experimental field at Nyankpala, near Tamale where they inspected the growing crops.
They were also taken through practical demonstrations on how to treat and coat seeds with the product before planting.
The field day was organised by Tachibana International Ghana Company Limited (TBIG), importer and distributor of the product, in partnership with KANEKA and CSIR-SARI.
Dr Michael Asante, a Soil Scientist at CSIR-SARI, during the field day said although the manufacturer had provided recommendations and information on the product, it had not yet been sufficiently tested under the local conditions.
Dr Asante said, âWe want to test it and see if it will help the farmers improve their yields.â
He said the field trials were being conducted on maize (Sanzal-sima), groundnut (SARINUT-2) and Soybean (Favor) with the crops expected to be harvested in October, this year where the productâs performance and suitability for farmers under local conditions would be determined.
He said the trial site was selected because of its known soil characteristics and low fertility, adding low organic carbon remains a major challenge to crop production in the northern part of the country.
Dr Asante said the trial involved different treatments including a combination of the bio-stimulant and half the recommended fertilizer rates of the crops involved to determine whether yields could match those achieved with full fertilizer application, adding that the approach could help reduce production costs for farmers.
Additionally, trial involved farmers in observing and assessing the technology before adoption with final evaluations to be made during harvest.
Mr Kekeli Klu, the Sales and Marketing Manager, KANEKA products said the demonstration was part of efforts to assess the productâs viability under local conditions.
He said TBIG and KANEKA sought to reduce farmersâ production costs through the introduction of the bio-stimulant, which did not directly supply nutrients but enhance plant response to environmental stress.
The product was especially relevant for drought-prone areas in the northern part of the country and could be stored for up to one-and-a-half years without refrigeration, Mr Klu said.
He stated that the product had also been tested at irrigation centres in the Greater Accra Region and had performed well.
Mr Ibrahim Shaibu, a farmer from Cheshegu, said he was pleased to have witnessed the demonstration and expressed interest in trying the product on his farm in the next farming season.
He appealed to the manufacturer to make the product readily available and affordable to local farmers to enable them to access it.
GNA
Edited by Eric K Amoh/ Christabel Addo
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