By: Bodza John Edudzi | ignewss.com |Kumasi
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – Crops Research Institute (CRI) has organized a three-day training programme on climate resilient sustainable yam production for some selected youth from across the country.
The training was held at the TCPU Conference room of the Crops Research Institute, Kumasi in the Ashanti region from Wednesday, November 8 to Friday, November 10, 2023.
Trainees were exposed to topics regarding yam production such as Good Agronomics Practices, Integrated weed management, Integrated Field, and storage pests. Pests such as mealybugs, yam tuber beetles, scale insects, and diseases like nematodes, fungi, bacteria, and viruses among others that affect yam tubers during pre-planting, pre-harvest, and post-harvest production were discussed extensively.
The participants were introduced to managing pests and diseases using the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Disease Management (IDM) strategies which include cultural or mechanical control, and biological and chemical control.
Furthermore, they were exposed to developing an agribusiness plan with the aim of ensuring the smooth run of their yam production, attracting funds, and expanding production. On the final day, trainees were sent to the field to practicalise and demonstrate the theory they had learned.
In an interview with Dr. Jonas Osei – Adu, the training coordinator, he emphasized that training was the initiative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) through the CSIR-CRI to expose the youth to agribusiness opportunities for them not to rely on the government for jobs.
He added, “This is not the first of its kind. Since last year, there were training production programmes on different courses including Aquaculture, Maize, and Rice seed production and flour production, and others to come in the subsequent weeks.”
He explained that participants were chosen based on age, gender, and other personal details provided during the application.
In a closing remark, the Deputy Director at CSIR – CRI Dr. Maxwell D. Asante encouraged participants to put the knowledge acquired into practice and assured advocate for support for them.
Facilitators for training were Prof. Emmanuel Otoo (project coordinator), Dr. Grace Bolfrey Arku – Principal Technologist at CSIR- CRI Kumasi, Dr. Ernestina Narveh Awarikabey, and Dr. Atta Aidoo Snr. Plant pathologist at CSIR-CRI Kumasi and Dr. Jonas Osei- Adu, Training Coordinator ECOWAS Youth Programme.
Participants were awarded a certificate of participation from CSIR-Crops Research Institute Regional Centre of Excellence for Root and Tuber (RCoE).
Source: www.ignewss.com|Ghana