Promotion of released rice varieties (Gbewaa, Nabogo & Katanga)

START DATE: 2014            ESTIMATED DURATION: 4

SPONSORS: WAAPP                                  

LOCATION: NR, UWR, UER

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Wilson Dogbe

PARTICIPATING SCIENTISTS: Wilson Dogbe (PhD), Samuel Oppong Abebrese , S. S. Buah & R. A. L Kanton

COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS: MoFA,

OBJECTIVES

·         To promote three (3) newly released rice varieties in the district

·         To introduce Good agronomic practices on the production of these improved varieties

·         To create awareness among farmers of the availability of the newly released varieties in the District.

METHODOLOGY: 1kg packs of 3 varieties released in 2009 (Gbewaa, Nabogo and Katanga) by CSIR-SARI but have not received the needed promotion will be distributed through MoFA to farmers in the 3 Northern regions: The Maturity period of the varieties are Gbewaa – 115 days, Nabogo – 125 days and Katanga 135 – days. They have achievable yields of 6 – 8 tons.  A Participatory approach using the Mother and Baby evaluation system will be used in this promotional exercise. In each district two demonstrations will be set up to compare the three varieties to the most popular variety.  Each participating farmer will receive one of the three varieties (Babies) to compare with his own variety. The demonstrations will serve as mother trials whiles the one variety given to farmers will serve as promotional packages/Baby trial.  Trained Collaborating MoFA extension Agents will organize fortnightly learning sessions at the demonstration sites where farmers will be trained or exchange ideas on good agronomic practices (good land preparation, good planting methods i.e. dibbling, recommended spacing at 25 by 25cm, and seed rate at 20 kg, early fertilizer application i.e. between 2 to 3 weeks after planting and 6-7 weeks for top dressing and early harvesting) for rice cultivation.

ACTIVITY/PROGRESS MADE SINCE PREVIOUS REPORT

A total of 1000 packages were distributed to famers in Northern and Upper West regions through MoFA. The poor rainfall pattern in 2015 in most of the target communities did not allow full implementation of the baby trials. As at the end of the quarter only 600 baby trials had been established. Field days were organized around the mother trials during planting and fertilizer application.

WAY FORWARD: Facilitate harvest and post harvest yield assessment on successful fields.