Delegation from Food Systems Resilience Programme Ghana Visits CSIR-SARI Technology Park.

Nyankpala: A delegation from the Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP) Ghana has undertaken a working visit to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) Technology Park at Nyankpala in the Northern Region. The visit aimed to explore potential areas of collaboration between FSRP Ghana and CSIR-SARI in fostering resilient food systems through research and innovation, as well as for FSRP Ghana to gain insights into the latest agricultural technologies developed by CSIR-SARI, particularly those addressing climate change, sustainable productivity, and food security challenges.According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Osei Owusu-Agyeman, National Coordinator of FSRP Ghana, who led the delegation, said it formed part of FSRP Ghana's broader agenda to promote partnerships with research institutions that were driving innovation in agriculture. The CSIR-SARI Technology Park, located in the Tolon District of the Northern Region, serves as a demonstration hub s howcasing advanced farming solutions and other agronomic innovations developed by CSIR-SARI.CSIR-SARI is recognized as a leader in agricultural research and technology development, playing a crucial role in addressing pressing challenges such as climate change, low agricultural productivity, and rural poverty. During the visit, the delegation was introduced to various high-yielding crop varieties and seed technologies, including oleic groundnut, sorghum, local hybrid maize, fall armyworm-tolerant maize, pearl millet, Frafra potato, and peat-tolerant cowpea.FSRP Ghana is a collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening the resilience and sustainability of food systems in Ghana, focusing on addressing challenges related to food security, nutrition, and climate change. It is part of a broader regional programme implemented across West Africa to improve agricultural productivity, reduce food losses, and enhance access to nutritious food.Mr. Owusu-Agyeman commended CSIR-SARI for its significant role in addr essing food insecurity in the country. He assured CSIR-SARI of FSRP Ghana's support in building capacity, highlighting the importance of commercializing research findings to impact the market positively.Dr. Francis Kusi, Director of CSIR-SARI, expressed delight at the visit, emphasizing its importance in scaling the technologies being developed by CSIR-SARI to enhance food security and improve livelihoods. He stressed the need to showcase the institute's capabilities to Ghana and the world.Mr. Ziblila Sayibu, Technical Officer, Yam Improvement Programme at CSIR-SARI, advised farmers to adopt new techniques for seed yam production, noting the rapid and promising results compared to traditional methods. He cautioned against recycling seed yams to prevent the accumulation of pathogens and bacteria that could reduce yield.