The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) has developed a technology to increase the yields of grain legumes, such as cowpea, Bambara bean groundnut, and soybean, to ensure food security.
The new technology, known as microbial inoculant or bio-fertilizer, has been proven to increase the yield of soybeans to three tonnes per hectare, compared to the current yield, which stands at a maximum of one tonne per hectare.
Dr. Edwin Akley, the Research Scientist at CSIR-SARI, said while increasing yield, the bio-fertilizer also improves farmers’ incomes, livelihoods, and nutritional status.
“Unlike the mineral fertilizer that has issues with nitrate leaching into water bodies and contaminating the environment, there is a minimum of that in the microbial inoculant. We are sure that when farmers use the new technology, more nitrogen will be fixed into the soil, the leaves of the crops will drop, and when the leaves drop, it will also improve soil fertility. So, when they rotate that field to the next crop, which could be millet, sorghum, or corn, what will happen is that, in some cases, they do not have to apply the full mineral fertilizer that they need. They may apply for half. So, indirectly, the farmers will reduce their production cost by 50 percent if they adopt the new technology in their farming system.”
Dr. Edwin Akley
The Bio-Fertillizer seeks to improve productivity
The use of the new technology is efficient in addressing climate change issues, amongst other environmental concerns, Dr. Akley disclosed, adding that it seeks to improve farmers’ productivity, livelihoods, nutrition, and household well-being in northern Ghana while counteracting ecological degradation.
Dr. Akley urged all Ghanaian farmers to use the bio-fertilizer, which costs GHC35, a price 12 times cheaper than the inorganic fertilizer, especially the urea, which is costly (GHc500).
The Microbial inoculant technology is being promoted under the Participatory Pathways to Sustainable Intensification: Innovation Platforms to Integrate Leguminous Crops and Inoculants into Small-Scale Agriculture and Local Value Chains (PASUSI) project in Ghana.
A consortium of institutions, namely; CSIR – SARI, University of Helsinki, Finland, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway, and Makerere University, Uganda, is implementing the project with funding from the European Union.
Farmers applaud the bio-fertilizer initiative
The project was replicated in eight Districts in Northen Ghana; Tolon, Kumbungu, Nanumba North, Zabzugu, Yendi, Tamale Metro in the Northern Region, and East Mamprusi Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri in the North East Region.
About 10,000 farmers are expected to be reached under the project. Most farmers who visited the demonstration farm lauded the technology and assured themselves that they would adopt it to improve productivity.
Ahmed Hafiz, maize, rice, and soybean farmer from Wuba Community, said the soybean had grown well, justifying the effectiveness of the technology.
Alhassan Gazale, maize, groundnut, and soybean farmer from Kpalsogu, also said the seeds had grown well and showed bigger grains, which is good for the farmers.
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