CSIR-Soil Research Institute Calls for Evidence-Based Fertilizer Use and Increased Research Funding to Safeguard Ghana’s Soils.
The Director of the CSIR-Soil Research Institute, Dr. Collins Tay, has raised concerns over two critical issues affecting sustainable agricultural development in Ghana: the inappropriate use of imported fertilizers and the inadequate funding of agricultural research.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show during Joy Agribusiness Month, Dr. Tay cautioned that some fertilizers imported into the country may not be well-suited to Ghana’s diverse soil conditions. He explained that the indiscriminate application of such fertilizers is contributing to soil degradation rather than improving soil fertility and agricultural productivity.
He noted that fertilizer import decisions are often made without sufficient consultation with soil scientists and other technical experts. According to him, applying fertilizers without proper soil testing and nutrient assessment can lead to imbalances, where soils already rich in certain nutrients receive additional unnecessary inputs.
“Some soils may already contain adequate levels of nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphorus,” he explained. “Applying
blanket fertilizer recommendations without considering soil conditions can result in excess nutrients leaching into the environment.”
Dr. Tay further emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between government, policymakers, and agricultural stakeholders to ensure that fertilizer importation and application are guided by scientific evidence and local soil data.
In addition to concerns about fertilizer use, Dr. Tay also highlighted the persistent challenge of limited funding for agricultural research in Ghana.
He revealed that while government pays the salaries of researchers, it does not provide direct funding for research activities, leaving donor agencies as the primary financiers of scientific work at the institute.
He warned that this heavy dependence on external funding poses risks to national ownership and control of critical agricultural data. In some cases, donor agreements require the transfer of raw research data, raising concerns about long-term access to information essential for national planning.
Dr. Tay stressed that the CSIR-Soil Research Institute plays a key role in providing soil fertility information, land suitability assessments, and agricultural mapping services that support food production and environmental management across the country. However, inadequate domestic investment limits the institute’s ability to fully deliver on its mandate.
He further observed that while substantial resources are spent on fertilizer imports and subsidies, relatively little is invested in research to determine appropriate fertilizer requirements tailored to Ghana’s varied soils.
Dr. Tay cautioned that continued underinvestment in agricultural research, combined with weak integration of scientific expertise into fertilizer policy, could undermine innovation, reduce productivity, and threaten long-term food security.
He therefore called for a coordinated, science-driven approach to fertilizer management, alongside increased and sustained government support for agricultural research institutions to safeguard Ghana’s soils and strengthen national food security.
