An integrated pest management technology, developed by the Crop Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-CRI), is poised to significantly reduce the incidence of pests and diseases in rice cultivation.
This groundbreaking integrated pest and disease control management technology is currently undergoing testing in rice demonstration farms situated in select rice-producing communities. It forms a pivotal component of CRI’s broader strategy to curtail pest infestations in rice farms, ultimately fostering sustainable rice production within the nation.
The development of this technology is made possible through sponsorship by the Korea Programme on International Agriculture (KOPIA), Ghana Center, as part of the “KOPIA Rice Diseases and Pests” project.
Dr. Kofi Frimpong Anin, a Senior Research Scientist at CSIR-CRI, emphasized the critical role of pest and disease management in rice production. He highlighted the pressing need for effective integrated pest and disease management technologies that can withstand the test of time and contribute to increased grain yield and quality, thereby helping Ghana achieve self-sufficiency in rice production.
Dr. Anin revealed that the three-year KOPIA project, initiated in 2022, has established pilot demonstration farms in Offinso-Sakamu, Nobewam, and Bayerebon No. 5, to address gaps in rice pest and disease control.
At the project’s outset, researchers meticulously monitored pest and disease occurrences throughout the entire rice growth cycle, from the nursery stage to maturity and harvesting. This thorough examination identified distinct types of pests and diseases, the rice growth stages at which they manifested, and the precise times of crop infestation.
Based on these findings, researchers developed an integrated management technology to effectively combat pest and disease issues. Dr. Anin explained that this integrated approach encompassed various rice production techniques, including seed selection, water management, fertilizer application, weed control, and the use of chemicals to manage diseases and pests.
Dr. Anin reported that the fields were divided into several plots: some mimicking traditional farmer practices, control plots with no interventions, and others implementing the comprehensive technology devised by CSIR-CRI.
Results indicated that the technologies introduced by CSIR-CRI led to rice plants with significantly more tillers (approximately 15, compared to the farmers’ practices, which had as few as five). Moreover, the grains harvested using CRI technologies exceeded those produced under conventional farming methods and the control system.
Dr. Anin concluded that as these demonstrations are currently at the pilot stage, further refinement of the technologies is necessary. With sufficient funding, CSIR-CRI intends to expand and implement these advancements in other rice-producing regions across Ghana.
Maame Akua Serwaa, a rice farmer in Bayerebon No. 5, expressed enthusiasm among local women for rice farming. She acknowledged their challenges, primarily constrained resources, and anticipated that the valuable insights gained from the project would aid in managing diseases and pests, ultimately resulting in increased yields for the women in the region.