1. RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT CSIR – CROPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE RELC ACTIVITIES IN VOLTA REGION In-House Review 2012 Joe Manu-Aduening (Dr)

2. RELC planning session for 2012 Date: 18 th &19 th February 2012 Location: Weizor Hotel, Ho No. of participants:63 (50 Men: 13 Women) No. of farmers: 5 No. of processors: 2 NGO’s2 Researchers6 Purpose of RELC planning session:  To review farmers’ production constraints  To develop strategies to solve constraints

3. Review of constraints identified in 2011/2012 Approaches used  Constraints identification at community level  Round table discussion List of constraints Fine tuning of constraints Categorization and prioritization of constraints Proposed solutions  Wrap-up and way forward Assignment of responsibilities Challenges and solutions

4. Review of constraints identified in 2011/2012 Categorization of constraints Root and tuber Cassava  Short shelf life of cassava  Scarcity of improved planting materials  High incidence of CMD  Bitter taste of some cassava varieties  Root rot of cassava Yam  High incidence of scale insect and mealy bugs  Yam tuber rot  High cost of seed yam  Unavailability of staking materials  Poor sprouting of yam

5. Review of constraints identified in 2011/2012 Categorization of constraints Sweetpotato  Difficulty in storing vines for planting Cereals and legumes Poor storage of paddy rice Extensive use of low yielding varieties  Yellowing of maize leaves (resulting in low yields)  High incidence of stem borers/army worms on maize  High incidence of maize streak  Pests (aphids) attack on cowpea  Empty pods of cowpea  Limited knowledge on efficient drying of cowpea  Rosette and leaf curl in groundnut

6. Review of constraints identified in 2011/2012 Categorization of constraints Vegetables  High pests and diseases in vegetables Leaf curl in tomato and pepper Leaf miner on onion and tomato Stem borers in vegetables Nematode infestation on pepper, tomato, okra and garden eggs Root rot of carrots/terminal/bulb rot in onion  High flower abortion in pepper and tomato  Drying of immature pepper fruit  Poor storage and preservation of vegetables Use of inappropriate chemicals for storage of vegetables Limited knowledge on drying techniques for vegetable

7. Review of constraints identified in 2011/2012 Categorization of constraints Tree and fruit crops  Pests and diseases on fruit/tree crops Flower/fruit abortion in mangos Stone weevil and fruit flies on mangos Mealy bugs on papaya Shoot die back in cashew

8. Issues for research and extension attention Issues Intervention Root and tuber  Short shelf life of cassavaExtension  Scarcity of improved planting materialsExtension  High incidence of CMDResearch/extension  Bitter taste of some cassava varieties?  Root rot of cassavaResearch/Extension Yam  High incidence of scale insect and mealy bugsResearch/Extension  Yam tuber rotResearch  High cost of seed yamResearch/extension  Unavailability of staking materialsExtension  Poor sprouting of yamResearch/Extension Sweetpotato Difficulty in storing vines during dry seasonResearch

9. Issues for research and extension intervention Issues Intervention Cereals and legumes Rice Poor storage of paddy riceExtension Extensive use of low yielding varietiesExtension Maize Yellowing of maize leaves (resulting in low yields) Research High incidence of stem borers/army worms on maizeExtension High incidence of maize streak virusExtension Cowpea Pests (aphids) attack on cowpeaExtension Empty pods of cowpea Research Limited knowledge on efficient drying of cowpeaResearch/Extension Ground nut Rosette and leaf curl in groundnutExtension

10. Issues for research and extension attention Issues Intervention Vegetables, fruits and tree crops  High pests and diseases in vegetablesResearch/Extension Leaf curl in tomato and pepper Leaf miner on onion and tomato Stem borers on vegetables Nematode infestation on pepper, tomato, okra and garden eggs Root rot of carrots/terminal/bulb rot in onion High flower abortion in pepper and tomatoResearch High incidence of drying of immature pepper fruitResearch  Poor storage and preservation of vegetables Use of inappropriate chemicals for storing vegetableExtension Limited knowledge on drying techniques for vegetableExtension

11. Issues for research and extension attention Issues Intervention Fruit and tree crops  Pests and diseases in fruit/tree crops Flower/fruit abortion in mangosResearch Stone weevil and fruit flies on mangos Research/Extension Mealy bugs on papayaResearch Shoot die back in cashewResearch

12. Review of constraints identified in 2011/2012 Cross cutting issues  Non availability of certified seeds of locally produced vegetable seeds  Lack of market  Inadequate knowledge on processing (vegetables)  Bush fires  High cost of farm inputs  Declining soil fertility  Poor road net work  Destruction of farms by animals  Fake agro inputs

13. Challenges and Way forward Challenges  Difficulty in identification of constraints from farmers  Weak linkage between research and extension  Lack of funds for RELC activities  Poor resources for regional RELC co-ordinators  RELC activities mostly centralised in Accra Way forward  Provide adequate funds for RELC activities  Need to revisit and learn from how the RELCS used to operate in the past (especially during the GGDP era)

17. THANK YOU