News

Maize green field day for Farmers in the North

Dabogshee, N/R, Sept. 30, – Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) organized maize green field day for Farmers in the farming communities in the Northern region.

The event which was held at Dabogshee Community was part of Nutrient-Catalyed Agricultural Transformation (NUTCAT) project, to demonstrates to the farmers on maize farming management practices to increased their productivities.

Dr. Mutari Abubakari, the Coordinator for NUTCAT project at the SARI said the NUTCAT project is in a collection with collaboration of research and training programs focused on improving precision nutrient management in Africa.

The project is run in nine countries including Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Tanzanian, Kennya, Nigeria, Cote d’ Ivoire and Togo.

He said the project which was implemented this year by African Plant Nutrition Institute in partner with SARI in Ghana, is a simple experimental design with small farm – scale plots of a hectare, divided into two treatments which were Optimized Treatment (OT) and Farmers Practice (FP).

He explained that OT is the combination of practices that will produce attainable yield while FP is the usual practices farmers do in the area.

During the demonstration in the farm, he advised the farmers to use best land acquisition and also prepare the land which start at the onset of early rains before production of the maize.

Dr Abubakari said Farmers should start planting on time when there is adequate moisture especially from June/July and should also used the the right seed from approved source for planting.

He also urged the Farmers to use the right fertilizer for maize and the right rate to apply the fertilizer in their farms during planting of the seeds.

He educated the Farmers on pest and disease control and asked them to used the best method for harvesting.

Mr Alhassan Mohamed Shiraz, North East Gonja District Director of Agricultural Department urged the Farmers to use the farm management practices to provide nutrient rich food for the country.

He added that farmers should also improve on production by adopting the new technologies in farming to enhance their mark globally.

The NUTCAT project is implemented in five districts included: Yendi District, Tolon District, West Mamprusi District, North East Gonja and Bono East.