Improvement and Scaling Up of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Ghana

START DATE: March 2015                                   ESTIMATED DURATION:  3 years

SPONSORS:  WAAP Ghana/CORAF                     

LOCATION:  Northern Region, Upper East Region, Ashanti Region, Volta Region, Greater Accra Region and Western Region

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Wilson Dogbe

PARTICIPATING SCIENTISTS:  Inusah I.Y Baba,  George K Achampong, Edward Martey

Augustine Opong Danquah, Gina Odarteifio, Evans Sackey Teye, Richard Akoka, Abraham Menu Addae,

COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS: AfricaRice , CSIR-CRI, GRIB, AMSIG RESOURCES, ADVANCE, MoFA, Rice Innovation platforms, Rice Projects

OBJECTIVES:

The overall objective is to increase productivity and production rice of rice in Ghana. The specific objectives: is to scale up the adoption of System of Rice intensification in Ghana

METHODOLOGY:

·         Develop the human and institutional capacity for SRI trough training and exchange visits

·         Identification/development of appropriate practices and technologies for SRI

·         Development of knowledge products

·         Dissemination of Knowledge products and innovations

·         Creation of functional innovation platforms

Trainings and follow up support/assistance will focus on smallholder farmers producing under both rainfed and irrigated conditions to improve rice productivity and competitiveness. The actions will follow the general rainfed planting cycle, except in irrigation zones and will include classroom training, field demonstration, practical, field days and post training monitoring and to ensure adoption by trainees.

ACTIVITY/PROGRESS MADE SINCE PREVIOUS REPORT:

·          Facilitated the establishment of Champion/Implementing Partner SRI  demos in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions of Ghana

·         Second tranche of funding support together with rotary weeders delivered to all partners and champions.

·         Working  with partners: MoFA (UE/R and UW/R),  JICA, Amsig Resources, Quality Rice Development Project, DMC Project, Navrongo and Savelugu Rice Innovation Platforms (IPs),  to ensure that all demos are completed successfully.

·         Geo reference (GPS coordinates) of  all SRI  Demos sites completed

·         Trained and supported technical staff of partners, champions to use SRI guidelines in field data collection and sharing.

·         Networking with other SRI Projects/Implementors in the zone such as SNV in upscaling SRI (Training and Sharing of Data Collection Tools)

·         Identified, procured  and tested appropriate mechanization equipments for  SRI sites in Ghana (paddy or rotary weeders)

                                                    

WAY FORWARD:

Data collection for Demos is on going at all demo sites with the active back up of Project officers

Regional level Field Days planned for Wa and Golinga/Bontanga to educate and inform more stakeholders on SRI

The Communications team is compiling Project Success Stories while the M & E team is organising training sessions to strengthen the Navrongo and Savelugu Rice IPs