Fatima Anafu-Astanga
Awaradone (UE), Sept. 21, GNA – Farmers in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region, have been exposed to six newly released early millet varieties termed in the local parlance as “Naara”.
The exposure was done at a demonstration farm at the Awaradone community by the Council for Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR) of the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) in Bawku, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture at the Talensi District.
Out of the six new varieties, five of them; Akad -Kom, Nafagnog, Afribeh Naara, WAAP Naara and NAAP Koh-blug, are open pollinated, while the Kaanati variety is a hybrid.
Even though both the local variety and the new ones have the same maturity period, the new ones have been found to produce more grain.
Dr Peter Asungre, a Research Scientist at the Manga Agricultural station, said while the local variety produced 0.7 to 1.1 tonnes per hectare, the new varieties yielded an average of 1.9 to 2.1 tonnes per hectare.
He said among the varieties that were released globally, the Akad- Kom was the second highest, rich in iron and zinc and good for children’s growth.
Dr Asungre said for close to four years the varieties had been studied and the latest which was the Nafagnog would be released to farmers this year.
Dr Asungre indicated that participatory variety development and farmer selection was key because the end user, the farmers, needed to be exposed to all the varieties to enable them make informed choices.
He said the Awaradone community demonstration farm was to enable the farmers to see the six varieties that SARI had released, which were planted at the beginning of July on the demonstration field.
This was to expose farmers to what SARI had been able to produce since 2015 with farmers in the Bawku enclave and how farming was central to the Region.
It was also meant to encourage farmers to adopt the varieties and use them.
“We know that there are Climate issues and these are very adaptable to the climate, as such the six varieties of early millet is exposed to farmers to make their own choices, so that by next season we know the varieties farmers are planning to produce,” he said.
Mr Mathew Sulemana, the Talensi District Director of Agriculture admitted that the farmers of Awaradone community were hard working hence when the trials invitation was received.
He said the directorate relied on the community’s continuous efforts for the field trials, stressing that with hard work the varieties could be replicated in other communities.
He expressed gratitude to SARI and assured them of dedicated work with support of the extension staff, to increase production.
He said millet production in the district had been declining because farmers complained of insects and pests infestation leading to poor yields.
Mr Sulemana noted that the farmers had seen the performance of the varieties showcased, and had made their choices.
He urged them to embrace the new varieties.
He said though maize production was on the ascendancy at the expense of millet, the farmers had seen that cost of maize production was higher and the new varieties of millet with good agronomic practices could turn their fortunes round.
He promised to ensure that when the next rains came the agriculture department would help the farmers to make better choices, to ensure good yields and increased food security.
GNA