KOPIA RDA and CSIR-CRI Launch Integrated Weed Management Project to Boost Ghana’s Rice Self-Sufficiency
The Korea Project on International Agriculture (KOPIA), Rural Development Administration (RDA) has partnered with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) to support the challenges in the management of difficult-to-control weeds facing rice growers in the Dawhenya Irrigation Enclave (K Rice Belt).
The collaborative project scheduled to run from January 2025 to December 2027 has Dr. Stephen Arthur and Dr. Grace Bolfrey-Arku both weed Scientists at CSIR-CRI, as Principal Investigators. The initiative aims to integrate a five (5) pronged approach of farmer interviews, systematic field monitoring, participatory field verification trials, farmer-focused feedback and skills training to develop an integrated weed management strategy adapted to local conditions.
Farmer Interviews
The interviews to be conducted informally and formally (structured questions) to rice farmers in the enclave will be administered individually and as groups. The documentation will be on common production and weed control practices, weed species of economic importance, farmers’ coping strategies, costs incurred in controlling weeds and yield losses attributable to weeds.
Field Monitoring
Selected fields of some farmers will be monitored in the major and minor seasons to quantify the dynamics of weed species population, their density and growth (biomass) at different rice growth stages. Observations would also be on insect pests and diseases common to rice plant and weeds.
Participatory Field Verification Trials
Hotspots of weed species of economic importance would be selected for the participatory verification trials with active involvement of the farmers. The verification trials would comprise different integrated weed management options which would allow farmers to choose options based on their resources (human and financial) and need for subsequent practice on their own fields.
Training and Communication
The project will provide direct feedback to all the rice farmers in the enclave, develop a practical manual, and run training workshops on best weed management practices for rice production across the enclave.
Expected Outputs and Outcome
The KOPIA RDA–CSIR-CRI Integrated Weed Management Project team is optimistic that, the evidence-based, farmer-centered weed management strategies participatorily developed hinged on the five (5) pillars would have following positive effects:
- Cost-effective weed control strategies that increase rice yields, reduce production losses, and build farmer capacity verified and developed.
- Weed control costs incurred by the farmers during production reduced by 15%.
- Farmer confidence enabled for peer knowledge sharing among farmers within the enclave through the consistent weed management training schedules.
- The enhanced capacity of the trained farmers to sustainably manage weeds would promote the adaptation and adoption of the improved technologies beyond the Dawhenya Irrigation Enclave.
- Opportunities for the diffusion and scale-out of improved weed management interventions beyond the enclave for adaptation and adoption through the enhanced knowledge and skills acquired by the farmers.
- Productivity increased by 5% in the enclave to strengthen national rice production and move Ghana closer to the goal of self-sufficiency in rice.
Authors: Dr. Stephen Arthur, Dr. Grace Bolfrey-Arku, Bernard Sakyiamah, Enoch Bobie Agyemang
