A group of first-year PhD students from the West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), KNUST, has paid a day study -tour to the CSIR-Soil Research Institute (SRI) at Kwadaso in Kumasi. The visit allowed the students to interact with scientists at SRI as well as learn more about the workings of the various Divisions of the Soil Research Institute.
Dr Edward Yeboah, acting director of CSIR-Soil Research Institute (SRI), Kumasi in his welcome address, said SRI is ready to collaborate with the students to enable them to understand the methods and procedures used in soil analysis and called for a stronger collaboration between the two institutions to facilitate the transfer of technology, knowledge, and expertise.
Mr Padlass P. Edeafour, the scientific secretary at SRI in his presentation, highlighted the institute mandate, which includes undertaking scientific research to generate technologies and information and commercialization of the developed technology.
“We need to appreciate the value of the soil resources for the provision of food and nutrition security and fresh water sources for the continued survival of humanity,” he added.
Dr William Amponsah, the Scientific Coordinator for the team, said this is the 5th batch of students that WASCAL is sponsoring to study Soil Management and Conservation related issues. According to him, WASCAL currently has 12 center’s in West Africa, with 2 of the PhD students on the WASCAL program being from Ghana.