Farmers introduced to best practices for rice production

Project Manager, Tono Irrigation Scheme, Sebastian Bagina on the floor

Beneficiary farmer (Middle) supported by Harriet of USAID-ADVANCE

Twenty four farmer groups belonging to the Biu Cooperative Marketing site in the Navrongo Municipality had been introduced to proper agricultural management practices as well as new technologies for rice production. With the implementation and adoption of this new practice, farmers in Biu and its adjoining communities are expected to double their yield this year. The introduction of the new technique which is captured under a USAID-funded Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement project (ADVANCE) project seeks to showcase different techniques in rice production. The project is being supported by the Ghana Rice Inter-Professional Body (GRIB), and Wienco Ghana, dealers in quality seedlings and agro chemical products. At a demonstration field-day to highlight the need for improved rice production, farmers that are yet to adopt the new methods were brought together to observe the rice fields. They were practically exposed to the usage of Sustainable Rice Intensification (SRI) transplanting methods, as against the traditional broadcasting method. This involves the application of less transplanted rice seedlings and bags of NPK fertilizers on an acre of land. Some of the beneficiary farmers that spoke to Radio Ghana gave varied testimonies on the viability of the project, emphasising that with the sustainability of the project, farmers in the area were poised to increase more yield since the practice involves the application of the right inputs. Introducing farmers to the SRI technique, a Business Facilitator at USAID ADVANCE, Alhassan Abdul Rashid said with the adoption of the new technique weed control is cheaper as   more row spacing are provided to allow easy detection of weeds and faster weeding using rotary weeder or manual hand picking. It also involves less irrigation and the use of fewer seed. According to him, farmers could save more than 80 percent seeds on   an acre of land with very less fertilizer and uses cost. Moreover, with the farmer practice, the average crop yield is pegged  at 4.5 metric tonne whilst the use of SRI technique could amount to an average of around 6 metric tonne during production. The major challenge, he noted, has to do with row transplanting which, he added, was too labour intensive as compared to the random dibbling. To this effect, some farmer groups have been engaged and trained to offer services to needy farmers.  The move, Mr Rashid observed, had compelled most farmers to adapt to the SRI technique under the ICOUR programme. The Project Manager of the Tono Irrigation Scheme, Sebastian Bagina, described as welcoming,  the introduction of the new technique. For him, it is profitable as it enable farmers to produce the right variety which is acceptable on the market. He implored farmers to embrace the new practice to increase their crop yield. Mr Bagina acknowledged the healthy partnership between ICOUR and USAID ADVANCE and called on its collaborators to work towards the sustainability of the project.  The USAID/ADVANCE project supports demonstration sites to promote innovations and to introduce management practices to smallholder farmers. The project is being executed with the involvement of demonstration sites for maize, rice, soya beans and cowpea. 

Story by Isaac Asare