By Albert Futukpor
Nyankpala (N/R), Oct. 02, GNA – About 130 farmers have been exposed to practical technologies and production approaches designed to address climate variability, soil fertility, and others.
Selected from Nyankpala, Kpendua and Gumacheguyili communities, these farmers gained knowledge at the CSIR-SARI Agricultural Technology Park at Nyankpala to strengthen the link between research and farming communities.
Amongst the technologies showcased were improved crop production techniques, integrated soil fertility management, seed yam multiplication strategies, black Soldier fly rearing, appropriate agronomics practices, and biological inputs.
The training was supported by the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development.
Dr Charles Nelimor, Manager, CSIR-SARI Agricultural Technology Park, who took the farmers round encouraged them to consider integrated production practices rather than individual technologies to improve the overall performance, productivity, and resilience of their farming systems.
Dr Nelimor said the Park was established not simply to showcase technologies but to enable farmers to see, understand and test them under their own farming conditions before making adoption decisions.
“This helps connect research with farmers’ realities and creates a stronger pathway for scaling practical solutions.”
He said the approach would help farmers make informed decisions based on the suitability of technologies to their specific farming conditions adding that the Park currently worked with eight partners comprising four seed producers, three academic institutions and an NGO.
Dr Nelimor said plans were underway to establish Mini Technology Parks at CSIR-SARI outstations in Damongo, Wa and Manga, subject to the availability of funding.
Mr Alidu Adamu, a farmer from Gumacheguyili, said the interaction with researchers had helped him better understand the technologies and how they could be applied to his farm.
He said “Seeing the technologies here and being able to ask the researchers questions has helped me understand how they can be used on my own farm. I will now consider which of these technologies are suitable for my farming conditions.”
GNA
Edited by Albert Futukpor/Bertha Badu-Agyei
Reporter’s Email: [email protected]