Interventions carried out under the EWA-BELT project have been touted to have significantly contributed to improving agricultural productivity, pest management, and food safety in the northern part of the country.
This came to light when the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research–Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) in collaboration with the Kundok Development Council (KDC) held a national stakeholders’ workshop to showcase key outcomes of the EWA-BELT project.The workshop, held at Nyankpala, near Tamale, brought together scientists, farmers, policymakers, and development partners to review progress made under the project and chart a path forward as it neared completion in September this year.
The EWA-BELT project is a four-year initiative aimed at enhancing food security and climate-resilient agriculture in the northern part of the country.
Dr Joseph Adjabeng Danquah, Project Coordinator and Deputy Director of CSIR-SARI, speaking during the workshop, explained that the EWA-BELT project, which commenced in 2020 and received a one-year no-cost extension due to COVID-19, focused on improving food production systems through research on neglected and underutilized species, sustainable soil and water management, and the use of environmentally friendly biopesticides.
He said the project was aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (2) targeting the eradication of hunger and poverty while promoting sustainable food systems.
He said: “We introduced crops such as fonio and improved sweet potato varieties, and trained farmers on preparation techniques to reduce post-harvest losses and aflatoxin contamination.”
Farmers from the project areas including Savelugu, West Mamprusi, Talensi and Nabdam shared their experiences about the project with all of them hailing it for its immense benefits to them.
Mr. Ahmed Musah, a farmer from Savelugu, said the project significantly improved his farming practices, emphasising that, “We learned how to plant cassava in combination with cowpea, and the new sorghum variety is performing well under our conditions. Planting on ridges has helped us manage water better during dry spells.”
Dr James Kombiok, Team Leader of KDC and Consultant on the project, expressed satisfaction with the successes chalked under the project saying, “All planned activities were implemented. The results were presented clearly giving farmers and stakeholders the opportunity to adopt technologies suited to their contexts.”
He emphasised innovations such as soil bunding and the integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers.
The workshop also served as a platform to thank farmers and institutional partners for their collaboration over the past four years and encouraged District Departments of Agriculture to integrate project findings into their development programmes to ensure sustainability.
By Albert Futukpor, GNA
