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Damongo, Ghana – The Faculty of Agriculture of the University for Development Studies (UDS) has acquired 1,000 acres of land at Damongo in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region Ghana for the production of variety of certified seeds for farmers to increase their yields.
The project, which is being facilitated by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Gabriel Ayum-Teye and the University’s Registrar, Dr A.B.T. Zakaria, seeks to provide easy access to seeds by farmers for increased crop production and yields.
It also seeks to complement government’s agriculture flagship programme, planting for food and jobs, in order to whip up the interest of the youths to go into farming to boost agriculture production and eradicate hunger.
Some of the varieties to be cultivated under strict supervision include soy bean, maize, yam, as well as vegetables.
The project has become a reality following the successful acquisition of a 60 per cent grant from the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) over a one year period for the production of quality seeds for farmers.
This was disclosed at a seed demonstration and research experimentation field day at Damongo which brought together farmers, students and some residents of the district to assess the quality of seeds to adopt to increase their farms’ yields.
A recent pilot project targeted 40 farmers across the district to showcase the opportunities in the seed sector and also to sensitize them on the need to adapt to the technology to boost their farm produce.
The Faculty of Agriculture also cultivated over 40 acres of maize and soybean and harvested over 200 bags of both crops.
Principal Technician for the project and a lecturer, Dr Alexander Deng Faalong, said access to quality seeds for farming in the country had been a challenge despite efforts being made by government and the private sector.
“The dwindling of the sector is due to the access of some uncertified seeds by many farmers, leading to post harvest loses hence the acquisition of the land for the production certified seeds to support farming activities” he observed.
“As seed producers, we are using the variety foundation for the farmers in the Northern sector”, Dr Faalong added.
“We aim at making the place a learning centre for both agricultural students within the second cycle and the tertiary levels for their practical training” he disclosed.
Field Assistant, William Danquah, appealed to donor agencies and government for support to produce more quality seeds for farmers in the country.
This, he said, will reduce the cost of importing seeds that normally delay farming in the country.
He also stressed the need for more training to be provided for farmers and Agricultural Extension Agents to ensure the right things were done to increase crop yields.
Mr. Dery Mark, a head teacher and farmer, expressed gratitude to the UDS for the initiative saying “it would encourage young ones to venture into the sector to grow crops to feed the family and also sell the excess harvest for other personal projects.
By Savannahnews
