Soil fertility is crucial for crop growth, primarily due to the presence of organic matter in the soil. While chemical fertilisers have increased plant yields, they have not effectively improved soil health.
RICOWAS has successfully introduced the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) initiative in 13 West African countries. This climate-resilient rice production (CRRP) farming system aims at significantly enhancing rice yields. Ghana is one of the 13 West African countries benefiting from this initiative, which has been effectively implemented in seven regions, including the Northern, Upper East, Savannah, Volta, Oti, Western North, and Ashanti. Its goal is to substantially improve rice production through smart plant, soil, and water flow, along with soil nutrient management.
These principles are rooted in four key concepts that underscore the critical importance of nurturing connected fields, nutrient-rich soils with organic manure, and an enhanced water management system.
The SRI principles assert the need for early and robust plant establishment, minimising plant competition through strategic spacing, and fostering fertile soils with organic matter using manure or compost, along with a controlled water management system for the rice plant. According to rice specialists, adherence to these four principles will lead to increased tillers, stronger roots, and improved grain filling in the panicles.
The SRI programme mandates that irrigated fields undergo meticulous land preparation, including precise levelling and the incorporation of organic manure to enhance soil structure during rice cultivation. This is imperative due to the impact of climate change, low soil fertility, and unpredictable rainfall patterns in the northern regions during the crop season.
The CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) and the Crop Research Institute (CRI) spearheaded these projects across seven Ghanaian regions, with funding from USAID through the Adaptation Fund.
In a training workshop for Agriculture Extension Agents (AEAs), Mr. Alex Yeboah, a rice breeder and acting head of the rice improvement project at CSIR-SARI, emphatically advised them to promote the usage of organic manure among rice farmers. He stressed the necessity of reducing the cost of rice cultivation for smallholder farmers by addressing soil acidity levels. Mr. Yeboah pointed out that some farmers cannot afford to apply a 50-kg bag of artificial fertiliser due to its high cost. He also emphasised that some soils are nutrient-poor, and therefore, using organic manure is an affordable and accessible option for farmers.
Mr. Yeboah adamantly stressed that the regular use of organic fertilisers will undoubtedly contribute to the development and rejuvenation of soil structures for rice cultivation in the Northern Region and significantly reduce production costs for smallholder farmers.
Moreover, Mr. Isaac Ayaga Abadu, an Agriculture Extension Officer at Kasana Nankana Municipal, asserted to GHone News in Nyankpala that most women are willing to accept the early nursery and trans-planting method because it is the foundation for healthy plant growth.
However, he voiced concern about convincing all farmers to follow the AWD, or water management concept. “Farmers have difficulty adapting to new water management strategies. Because it takes time to level their land, many of them do not do so. They enjoy water, so they usually flood the fields. Those who have decreased the water level in the field are beginning to understand, so we are certain that they will apply the tactics and minimise their usage of water,” he remarked.
Dennis Bangnekuu, the Agricultural Extension Agent (AEA) for the Nyankpala electoral area in the Tolon District Assembly, expressed with confidence to GHOne News that a demonstration field had been established in the Golinga irrigation scheme to educate more farmers. This initiative was in response to the prevalent misuse of water by farmers for vegetable and rice production within the irrigation scheme. “I can emphatically state that since engaging the women, they have wholeheartedly embraced AWD techniques to ensure optimal health and robust panicle growth of rice plants. We are highly optimistic about the positive changes being realised.”
Additionally, the project has successfully developed a comprehensive training manual aimed at guiding AEAs in training rice farmers across the seven implementation regions of the country.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Noah Nash Hoenyefia
