CSIR-SARI undertakes on-farm practice exchange between rice farmers in the Northern and Upper East Regions
The initiative, under the Scaling Up of Climate Resilient Rice Production Practices (RICOWAS) project, aims to encourage farmers to adopt good agricultural practices from their peers.
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) in Tamale has embarked on an on-farm practice exchange involving selected farmers from the Bontanga and Golinga Irrigation Schemes in the Northern Region and their counterparts at the Tono Irrigation Scheme in Navrongo.
The initiative, under the Scaling Up of Climate Resilient Rice Production Practices (RICOWAS) project, aims to encourage farmers to adopt good agricultural practices from their peers.
A total of over fifty (50) farmers from both Tamale and Navrongo benefited from the experiential visit, which was held at selected rice fields under the Tono Irrigation Scheme on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Alex Yeboah, a Rice Breeder at the Nyankpala Office of CSIR-SARI in Tamale, said the farmers’ experiential visit is important because farmers more easily adopt practices from their colleagues.
“In terms of adoption, it is easier for a farmer to adopt good practices from their colleagues, so the main purpose is for the farmers to interact with their colleagues and learn what they are doing here and then also try to observe at first hand.” He said.
Yeboah observed that some rice farmers at the Tono Irrigation Scheme have begun implementing improved practices, including the use of the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) tool to manage water levels on their fields, a practice encouraged by the project.
He emphasized that the RICOWAS project aims to promote the adoption of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI).
The participants shared varied rice farming practices, ranging from nursery preparation and transplanting to fertilizer application and water level management, among others.
Mahafuzu Isahaku, a farmer from the Bontanga Irrigation Scheme, said the project has offered him the opportunity to learn new methods, including fertilizing on the day of transplanting.
“This will help me a lot to improve my farm yields, because it’s through farming that I can further my education and take care of my young ones.” He said.
The Scaling Up of Climate Resilient Rice Production Practices (RICOWAS) is a four-year project that aims to boost food security and sustainability across 14 West African countries through the adoption of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and sustainable water management practices.
Mike 105.3FM | Navrongo | Alexander Bombande
