CSIR-SARI Introduces Climate-Resilient Hybrid Maize to Farmers in Wa East District.

Manwe: The Savanna Agricultural Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-SARI) has introduced farmers in Manwe and Goripie in the Wa East District to stress-tolerant and hybrid maize varieties. The farmers were introduced to these improved maize varieties during a farmers' field day at Manwe, organized by CSIR-SARI. According to Ghana News Agency, the demonstration fields were part of the dissemination process of climate-resilient maize hybrids under the 'Participatory On-farm Testing of Stress Tolerant Maize in Upper West Region of Ghana' project, funded by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Addressing the farmers, Dr. Mahama G. Yakubu, a Senior Research Scientist at CSIR-SARI, Wa station, explained that the demonstration fields were a strategy to test and promote the release of the maize varieties and ensure their adoption by farmers. Dr. Yakubu highlighted the importance of adopting climate-smart maize varieties and hybrids to enhance economi c gain. He emphasized that due to climate change, developing climate-smart hybrids is crucial. These hybrids mature early, are stress-tolerant, and high-yielding, fitting into consumer preferences to improve livelihoods. Dr. Yakubu further explained that the hybrids have built-in tolerance mechanisms to water shortages, enabling them to produce more than other maize varieties during drought conditions. He noted that some improved varieties have short maturity periods to cope with erratic and declining rains, especially in northern Ghana. He stated that with stress-tolerant maize genotypes, farmers are more likely to achieve food security, allowing them to allocate less land to maize and invest in other crops for a balanced diet, higher incomes, and improved soil fertility. However, Dr. Yakubu, an agronomist, stressed that the yield potential of hybrid maize varieties could only be realized if farmers adhere to good agronomic practices (GAPs) such as proper land preparation and timely weeding. Other GAPs m entioned include observing the '4Rs' of nutrient stewardship (right source, right rate, right time, and right place), pest control, and timely harvesting. Some farmers, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency during the field visit, expressed hope that the improved maize varieties would alleviate challenges they face in farming due to irregular rainfall patterns.