CSIR Demonstrates To Rice Growers In E/R The AWD Irrigation Technology

April 17, 2023 1 Comment

Rice Growers in the Eastern Region of Ghana have been introduced to a technology that would help them farm more rice with less water and enjoy more than one rice cropping season per year.

With the general notion that Rice (Oryza _sativa_ ) is best grown in areas with high humidity, prolonged sunshine and an assured supply of water, the Council For Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in one of their researches have proven that rice necessarily does not require a waterlogged area to thrive.

To enhance resource use efficiency and improve yields, scientists from the Crops Research Institute and the Plant Genetics Resources Research Institute (PGRRI) of the CSIR demonstrated to rice growers in the Eastern Region, how rice (Oryza sativa) can thrive with less water on Friday April 14 2023 at Nsuapemso in the Fanteakwa South District.

As part of the engagement, the institutes introduced to the farmers, a water-smart irrigation technology called the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) technology. The AWD irrigation technology is a water management system where rice fields are not kept continuously submerged but are allowed to dry intermittently during the rice growing stage.

Dr Matilda Bissah, a Senior Research Scientist and rice breeder, revealed that rice farmers ought to embrace the new technology so as to ensure rice sufficiency in the country since the technology would enable them farm anytime of the year with less available water.

“Most of the farmers and Ghanaians in general think rice can only be cultivated in waterlogged areas but this new technology proves that you can farm rice with less water and not necessarily in waterlogged areas” – Dr Matilda Bissah said.

Dr Stephen Yeboah, a Senior Research Scientist and Co-Lead of the project from the CSIR – Crops Research Institute explained the importance of good agronomic practices in rice production and took farmers through fertilizer application and best rice planting practices.

“We used 4 varieties of rice and demonstrated to them the best fertilizer and water application practices. We urged them to also practice rice transplanting and avoid the broadcasting method” – Dr Yeboah added.

Dr Patricia Amankwaa Yeboah of the CSIR-Crops Research Institute also refuted claims that the fact that the rice is not submerged means the rice lacks water or is stressed.

“Our research has proven that the mere fact that you do not find water on the surface of the rice field does not mean the rice needs water. So we have developed, in collaboration with the Lancaster University, UK, a simple technology called the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation technology where we use simple PVC pipes for ground water monitoring and irrigation scheduling – Dr Patricia Amankwaa Yeboah said.

“The PVC device used will monitor the level of water in the soil to inform farmers on when to water their crop. This will help reduce the amount of water used in rice production. Again, it saves time and labour costs thereby increasing the farmers profits” – She expressed further.

Mr Isaac Frimpong, Technical Officer from CSIR – Crops Research Institute and Mr Eric Mensah, a postgraduate Researcher at Lancaster University, UK, took the farmers through the field and exposed them to the various treatments used in the research and demonstration.

Prof. Moses Brandford Mochiah, Director of the CSIR – Crops Research Institute, Kumasi, also advised farmers to adopt the new technology to help boost their productivity and reduce percentage of rice importation in the country. He urged farmers to see rice farming as a serious business.

“Rice farming is very lucrative. If our farmers adopt the new technology and go according to our directions, they will improve their yields and make enough money such that in five (5) to ten (10) years time, Ghana might not import rice anymore” – Prof Brendford advised.

Dr Daniel Ashie Kotey, Director- CSIR (PGRRI, Bunso) added that farmers must continue to engage CSIR should the need be and assured them of the readiness of the institute to come to their aid anytime the farmers call on them.

The rice growers expressed their appreciation to the organizers and promised to go by the directions.

The research and demonstrations are being conducted across 4 regions in Ghana by the kind assistance of the Government of the United Kingdom through the GCRF Innovate Africa Awards and the Friends of Lancaster University in America (FLUA). The project is co-led by the Lancaster University in the UK and the CSIR-Crops Research Institute in collaboration with the CSIR-Savannah Agricultural Research Institute, the CSIR-Plant Genetics Resources Research Institute and New Age Agricultural Solutions.