The Savannah Agricultural Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-SARI) has introduced farmers to stress-resilient crop varieties, to help them adapt to the challenges of climate change, enhance productivity, and food security.

The farmers were introduced to the improved crop varieties during a demonstration field visit at Wa, in the Wa Municipality.

The farmers drawn from the Kpongu community in the Wa Municipality were introduced to the improved crops, which included: stress-tolerant maize varieties; sorghum hybrids; onions; millet and groundnut varieties.

Addressing the farmers on the field, Dr George Mahama, an Agronomist at the Wa office of CSIR-SARI, explained that the crop varieties were not just stress tolerant, but also high yielding and extra-early to intermediate maturing.

He said adopting those crop varieties could improve farmers’ productivity amidst the climate change impact experienced in recent times.

“These stress-resilient crop varieties will give farmers a beacon of hope in their farming endeavours during this period where climate change seems to have come to stay”, Dr. Mahama indicated.

He encouraged farmers to adopt improved crop varieties to help enhance their farming activities and their economic fortunes.

Mr Asieku Yahaya, a Research Scientist at the Wa office of the CSIR-SARI, introduced the farmers to four early pearl millet cultivars that were intercropped with an early cowpea variety, which was a climate change adaptation strategy.

He encouraged farmers to patronise those varieties as they were a potent solution to climate change effects experienced especially in this year’s cropping season.

He said those varieties released by the CSIR-SARI were early maturing and reaching “physiological maturity between 70-80 days and yield potential of 1.9 to 2.1 tons per hectare”.

Mr Hashim Ibrahim, an Assistant Research Scientist of the CSIR-SARI, Wa station, took the participants through resilient and sustainable onion production.

He said some farmers in the region perceived that onions could not yield well in that region.

“For this reason, Idol and Texas tropical varieties of onion are tried on our research field for farmers to familiarise with good agricultural practices,” he stated.

Some farmers who participated in the trial field visit shared their concerns about the drought, which affected their farm output.

Madam Hawa Dauda, a farmer said, “I farmed an acre of groundnuts this year, but due to the drought, I harvested just a bag of groundnuts”.

The farmers, therefore, expressed hope that the new stress and drought-resilient crop varieties would help reduce the impact of climate change on their farming activities. 

Mr Fredrick Vuozie, the Wa Municipal Director of Agriculture, noted that the prolonged drought experienced this year affected farmers, resulting in significant crop losses and reduced yields.

He said over 8,000 hectares of crops had been destroyed by drought within the Municipality alone.

Mr Vuozie commended CSIR-SARI for the initiative stating that the stress-resilient varieties would help mitigate the impact of drought on the farmers in subsequent years.

Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, has expressed concern over recent telecommunications network disruptions caused by recurring fibre optic cable cuts during construction works.

He cited construction works on roads, water and electricity supplies as contributory factors to damaging underground cables, which had been laid in accordance with approved distances and depths from the road.

Dr Ashigbey expressed the concern during the telecommunications industry Market Storm Event at Nkawkaw, and appealed to contractors on sites to be vigilant when working, to avoid recurrent fibre cuts to enhance the operations of telecommunications companies.

Early this year, the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications had reported alarming statistics on fiber-optic cable cuts in 2023, with these data showing 6,232 interruptions in that year, resulting in significant financial losses estimated at USD 6,443,115.18 or GHS 84,087,990.44.

He said the average repair cost per cut was USD 29,276.42 or GHS 382,492.61, therefore, to increase public awareness of mobile network operators’ products and services, the Market Storm Event was initiated to boost visibility and drive interest in the latest innovations in mobile technology.

The event served as a multifaceted outreach programme, showcasing new products and services, strengthening customer loyalty, and fostering their engagement.

It offered a unique face-to-face opportunity for operators to engage with their audience, showcasing their latest innovations and dedication to customer satisfaction in a hands-on, interactive manner.

Participating in the event were MTN, Vodafone (operating as Telecel-Ghana), Airtel Tigo, G-Money, and Zeepay, as well as tower companies such as American Tower Company and Ericsson.

The officials from the Nkawkaw Division of the Ghana Police Service, sensitised the public on internet fraud (Facebook and online dating scams), sextortion, social engineering attacks, and election security.

Commuters, traders, including street vendors, passersby, drivers, and individuals were given the opportunity to engage in discussions and ask questions.

The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications is an industry association and a private initiative by mobile network operators in the country.

It is an advocacy institution established to help direct telecommunications policy, legislation, and regulation, and to pursue research towards the development of the telecommunications ecosystem.

Mr Felix Addo-Okyireh, the Eastern Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), urged telecommunications companies to work hand in hand with the Agency regarding compliance with regulating activities of tower installations.

He said that seeking a permit from the Agency would help determine their environmental impact and enforce regulations to ensure environmental conservation.

Social Enterprise (SE) Ghana, a network for high-impact social entrepreneurs, has called for policies and legislations that specifically recognize and support social enterprises, including tax breaks, access to grants, and favourable business conditions.

Such policies, it said, would enable social entrepreneurs to make a greater impact on Ghana’s economy by generating more opportunities for young people.

Mr. Edwin Zu-Cudjoe, Executive Director of SE Ghana, made the remarks during a policy discussion in Accra.

He underlined the need for a more conducive environment for social entrepreneurs in Ghana, particularly in the agribusiness sector.

The event brought together key government agencies, including the Ministries of Trade and Industry, Finance, and Food and Agriculture, as well as other stakeholders.

The main objective was to advocate for a comprehensive policy that addresses critical issues such as investment access, market opportunities, and support for agribusiness.

The initiative seeks to enhance the sustainability and impact of social enterprises, effectively contributing to national economic growth and food security.

Social Enterprise Ghana represents approximately 1,100 organizations, over 55 per cent of which are engaged in climate-smart agribusiness.

The network has been diligently advocating for the establishment of a Ghana Social Enterprise Policy to support sustainable development and enhance the impact of social enterprises across the country.

Agribusiness social enterprises in Ghana play a vital role in the economy, with over 115,000 contributing approximately $1.4 billion to the GDP and providing jobs for more than 400,000 individuals.

Despite these contributions, many enterprises, particularly those led by young women, persons with disabilities, and refugee farmers, face significant challenges.

Mr. Zu-Cudjoe emphasised the persistent challenges encountered by enterprises, particularly those run by young women, people with disabilities, and refugee farmers.

Despite their valuable contributions, these groups encounter significant barriers, including limited access to land, inadequate financial solutions, and lack of tailored policies.

Mr. Zu-Cudjoe observed that there was little acknowledgment that social entrepreneurs often approach banks for investment or loans, but they are perceived as NGOs, which could prevent them from seeking financing.

Furthermore, a lack of government backing limits their ability to effectively serve their communities.

Mr. Zu-Cudjoe highlighted the challenges the Network encountered in advocating for essential policies for proper recognition, which prompted important discussions around policy development.

He called on the Ministry of Trade and Industry to support the adoption process, emphasizing the need for a more favourable business environment for social enterprises to thrive.

Prof. Ernest Asamoah, a researcher and consultant for the SE Ghana, emphasised the significant role of social enterprises in Ghana’s economy.

He noted that, with over 115,000 social enterprises contributing around 3.5 per cent to the country’s GDP, the implementation of supportive policies could significantly increase their impact.

“If you have a sector that makes such a contribution by employing more than 800,000 people, then, it has the capacity to employ over 2.5 million people over the next five years, that means it is a huge sector to deal with,” he stated.

He admitted that the network was currently facing significant constraints due to a lack of policy, which meant that an agenda setting was required to grab the attention of the government and the public.

Prof. Ernest Winful, a researcher and Accra Technical University representative, argued that social enterprises had the potential to tackle the country’s challenges.

“We all witnessed the way our water bodies have been seriously destroyed. We are all witnessing the extent to which galamsey is affecting all our sectors and all our activities. And when a policy like this is passed, it is also a way of addressing those challenge.

“The current challenge society is facing is how we do things, and the social enterprise is a model that looks at how we do things differently. We look at how to impact society and at the same time protect the environment,” he said.