On December 1, 2023, the CSIR-Soil Research Institute (SRI) participated in the 39th National Farmer’s Day Celebration in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. The event was held under the theme “Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience.”

Hon.Simon Osei Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, in his keynote address reiterated that agriculture still remains the main economic back bone of the country business development .He said government was committed to empower the local rice farmers on contemporary ways of farming to maximize production and also to reduce post-harvest losses.

Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi reiterated the importance of consuming and patronizing Ghanaian foods to prevent the wastage of farm produce during times of abundance.

He said that will address the challenges of post-harvest loses, a situation where farm produce is left to go to waste due to the unavailability of market and warehouses to keep the leftovers and also boost the local industry.

The Mayor indicate that it was therefore essential to explore innovative approaches and technologies to ensure the sustainability and growth of the agricultural sector. He mentioned several government interventions and investments by the government to the Kumasi Metropolis, and that efforts were ongoing to address post-harvest losses in various sectors such as grains, fish, fruits and vegetables, through targeted training programs for about Seven Hundred (700) market women in the Kumasi Metropolis.

Mr. Gabriel Willie Quansah, acting director at CSIR-Soil Research Institute (SRI), mentioned the “SAWAH” technology and the transforming Agri-food Systems in West and Central Africa (TAFS-WCA) project by CSIR-SRI and AfricaRice in the Ahafo Ano South West and Ahafo Ano South East District aimed at boosting food diversification and integrating fish into the rice-based production system, which would help Ghana push closer to achieving food and nutrition security.

The overall best Metro and Regional farmer award was presented to the Amanfrom Camp Prisons in the Bantama Sub-Metro District Council. They received 10 bags of fertilizer, 12 liters of weedicide, 2 Wellington boots, 1 Knapsack sprayer, 1 tricycle and a certificate of recognition. The Regional Best Farmer award was presented to Nana Abena Gyamfua from the Juaben Municipal.

Present at the event were the Assembly members, the Metro Director of Agriculture, some heads of department, service heads, traditional authorities, community members, and the press.