Ghana’s development under siege of unbridled land grabbing

It took an industrial action by workers of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) recently to get their concerns of land sales and encroachment partly addressed by the government.

Domestic flights had to be grounded as part of the agitations before a compromise was reached for the GCAA to have 153 acres of the demanded 640 acres of land released.

The parcels of land reserved for the installation of aviation equipment are being sold to private estate developers.

The civil aviation scenario is a microcosm of the worrying land situation in Ghana.

Unfortunately for institutions that lack the power of impactful industrial strike, lands earmarked for research activities are stealthily encroached, taken over and sold out by traditional authorities and other custodians.

Among State institutions suffering from the land grabbing spree is Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which is mandated to pursue the implementation of government policies on scientific research and development.

The over 15 research institutes under the council are engaged in activities of importance to the development of agriculture, health, environment, technology, industry and other service sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

But the Council is gradually losing its research lands across the country – over 370 acres of land, mostly in the Greater Accra region.

Some individuals with the mandate to guard national asset are rather pursuing their parochial interest by approbating to themselves lands acquired by the State – through Certificate of Allocation – without consulting people entrusted with the management of such lands.

Private individuals with links at the corridors of political power manage to get the Lands Commission to sign off lease agreement for land occupied by the CSIR as demonstration fields and other research purposes.

In some instances, CSIR staff are manhandled and terrorized with impunity by hired land guards whilst court injunctions are gleefully overlooked.

The Research Staff Association of the CSIR has cautioned that the country’s food and water security is threatened by the unbridled grabbing of lands earmarked for agricultural research and development.

The researchers are forced to waste precious time to fight, protect and reclaim the lands, instead of focusing on their mandate to conduct research for national development.

Ironically, the Council seems to be fighting the very State institutions that should help protect the lands as calls for government’s support to protect the lands from encroachment are ignored.

The challenge of land grabbing is indeed alarming in the country.

Ghana’s food and water security is already under threat as arable lands are lost to environmentally-destructive illegal mining activities as well as infrastructural expansion projects.

Water bodies and wetlands are being destroyed for the construction of commercial and residential infrastructure.

Peri-urban agriculture is now a luxurious venture with no land left for such farming activities.

The unbridled acquisition of rural lands by foreign investors, often for biofuel projects, also have negative implications for Ghana’s forest resource management and deprive local people of sustainable livelihoods.

The rush for land threatens to squeeze out poor communities with weak land rights.

There have been demonstrations and agitations in a number of communities against traditional authorities for selling lands illegally to foreigners without compensation.

Forest reserves are also not spared. In the last two decades, mining companies have targeted forest reserves and the number of requests for exploration permits to mine in forest reserves has increased.

Land utilization in line with modern day planning and the complexity of land ownership pose a tough challenge to stimulate the socio-economic development agenda of the country.

The smooth coordination of the country’s land sector has been hindered by lack of modern information management systems – conflict of interest often ensue among government, traditional leaders and private individuals in the acquisition of land for business or community development projects.

For the past decade, Ghana has implemented a Land Administration Project with the objective to promote efficient and transparent land delivery services.

But challenges persist. The siting of markets, recreational, religious and school sites as well as sanitation and vehicular parks has sometimes being a herculean task in communities.

As the global population soars, farmlands and freshwater are increasingly becoming valuable resources.

But as land becomes a scarce resource, should personal parochial interests be allowed to override the national development agenda of reserving lands for research and development?

By Kofi Adu Domfeh

New technologies support farmers create fodder market in Ghana

Agricultural researchers are introducing new technologies for local farmers to access fodder from their farms to feed their livestock and sell supplies to others.

Fodder – animal feed – is any agricultural foodstuff mostly used to feed domesticated livestock – such as cattle, goats, sheep, chickens and pigs.

Under the integrated crop-small ruminant production system in West Africa, Ghana’s Crops Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is researching into the production, storage and marketability of fodder.

This is in line with the goal to increase agricultural productivity for poverty reduction and enhanced food security.

According to Animal Scientist on the project, Dr. Christopher Antwi, the new technology would enable farmers access quality feed for livestock production.

“The farmers do complain about the bulkiness of the fodder coming from the farm to the homestead, so we try to develop this technology which will reduce the cost of transportation,” he said.

Dr. Antwi says the technology is simple and cost-effective, involving a rectangular box – 75cm x 50cm – stuffed with fodder materials, compressed and tired with a rope to reduce the bulkiness.

“In the dry season, we don’t have enough fodder for feeding, so these would be back-up for the farmers to feed; so if other farmers see the bills in colleagues’ homes, they’ll buy to feed their animals,” he stated.

The project seeks to develop and strengthen the crop –sheep and goats value chain in the sub-humid tropics of Ghana and Benin and semi-arid regions of Gambia and Mali.

Agricultural Economist, Jonas Osei-Adu says there are opportunities in fodder marketing, especially in the northern parts of Ghana.

“When you grow cowpea or maize, how do you make use of the leaves to feed your animals? Economically, it’s going to increase farmers’ income because instead of buying special feed for your animals, you’re going to get feed at very cheap price and sometimes you don’t have to buy because you’ll get them direct from your farm to feed your animals,” he noted.

Some Ghanaian farmers are recording 50-200 percent increase in crop yield under the innovative project that integrates crop and small ruminants for sustainable production.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Commercialization of research products to take off in 18 months

The commercialization of research products under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) should take off within the next 18 months.

The ‘CSIR Plus’ company was incorporated in 2009 to run as a public-private venture, functionally independent from the mainstream corporate CSIR management.

Director-General of the Council, Dr. Abdulai Baba Salifu says a comprehensive business plan for CSIR-Plus is being worked out to ensure institutes under the Council have the impetus to be self-sufficient.

“We now have commissioned some consultants to draw exhaustive business plan that will cut across the CSIR; so that will be the blueprint for CSIR Plus to operate on as a business and all encompassing business plan that will ensure there is a centralized mobilization of funds,” he told Luv Biz in Kumasi.

CSIR is the largest scientific research organization in Ghana, operating under the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST). 

Some of 13 research institutes under the Council have over the years developed and released improved crop varieties and their production technologies.

A number of consumer foods on the Ghanaian market are from the fold of the CSIR but it hardly receives any financial rewards.

The CSIR Plus has the primary purpose of identifying and commercializing CSIR technologies and services on sound business lines.

“It will be a very viable venture,” Dr. Salifu stated.

The CSIR has been challenged to wean itself from government subventions.

According to Minister for Environment, Science and Innovation, Dr. Joe Oteng-Adjei, the Council has the potential to create enough wealth to support itself and fuel the country’s economic growth.

This, the minister said, should become a thing of the past, adding that the CSIR must be able to sell its output to generate enough funds to support its activities.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Researchers strategize to promote integrated agriculture in drylands

A scientific meeting is underway in Kumasi, Ghana, to develop strategies to promote integrated agriculture in dryland communities and develop technologies to manage risks imposed by the environment.

Research partners under the CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Dryland Systems for West Sahel and Dry Savanna will work out plans to implement the integrated production systems for improving food security and livelihoods in dry areas.

The program is led by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and implemented in West Africa by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and partner institutions. It is to validate the effectiveness of interventions in specific agro-ecosystems.

“In the West African Sahel and Dry Savannas region, the aim is to improve the lives of 23 million people and to mitigate land degradation on over 200,000km²”, said Dr. Zac Tchoundjeu, ICRAF Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

Drylands are fragile ecosystems and people are extremely sensitive and vulnerable to global and environmental change. Such lands are characterized by constrained agriculture where risk and vulnerability are the most immediate concerns.

Minimizing the risks and sources of vulnerability is an urgent challenge to research organizations and partners.

The Dryland Systems is the first-ever global-scale research program to use innovative, integrated systems approach to improve agricultural productivity, protect the planet and alleviate poverty and hunger in dry areas.

“The CRP on Dryland Systems is engaging in large-scale action research to identify innovative intervention packages – developed together with stakeholders – to sustainably improve agricultural productivity and livelihood resilience”, Dr. Tchoundjeu stated.

He however acknowledged the road to sustainable dryland ecosystems and improved livelihoods is long and challenging, which demands strong partnerships to overcome.

Dr. William Payne, Director of the CGIAR Dryland Systems Program, stated that whilst diverse scientific disciplines are being deployed to improve farming and livelihoods in drylands, better policies are critical to achieved the desired socio-economic and environmental impact.

Ghana’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has undertaken research and development activities to enhance agricultural production and improve food security and livelihoods in dry areas. These include development of drought resistant, high yielding, early maturing, pest and disease resistant varieties of maize, plantain, cassava, yam, oil palm, cowpea, rice, soybean and groundnut.

 

Director-General of the Council, Dr. Abdulai Salifu, is hopeful the CRP Dryland Systems will focus attention on “development of more productive, profitable, diversified and sustainable dryland agriculture with well established linkages”.

Representatives of research institutions and farmers’ organizations from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal are participating in the two-day scientific planning meeting.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Open forum on Agricultural Biotechnology holds in Kumasi

A workshop to provide public awareness and disseminate information on agricultural biotechnology in Ghana is scheduled for Kumasi on Friday March 15, 2013.

Stakeholders, especially farmers, consumers, students, researchers and journalists will interact and discuss issues related to modern agriculture in Ghana.

The session is being organized by the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in collaboration with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ghana.

Ghana is in the process of approving trials of various biotech crops such as Bt Cowpea, Bt Cotton and improved rice, among others.

The country also recently passed the Biosafety Law and is in the process of developing regulations to implement the law. 

Dr. Margaret Ottah Atikpo, Focal Person of OFAB-Ghana Chapter, says stakeholders should be aware of the developments surrounding the vital technology to be well informed.

“Modern Biotechnology is relatively recent scientific innovation that requires deliberate and sustained communication efforts to create awareness and understanding to consumers, legislators and policy makers”, she said in a statement.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Ghana to establish Horticulture Research Institute under CSIR

Ghana’s horticulture sub-sector should be boosted with the proposed establishment of the Horticulture Research Institute under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Horticulture is a branch of agriculture concerned with the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamentals such as plants used for landscaping.

Pest infestation in Ghana's fresh fruits and vegetables is among challenges of horticulturists in accessing international markets for produce such as pineapples, mangoes, tomatoes melons, egg plants, cassava and sweet potato leaves.

Dr. Abdulai Baba Salifu, Director-General of the CSIR, says the proposed institute is to address challenges in the underserved area of horticulture.

“The horticulture sector in Ghana has a greater potential to fetch us foreign exchange but the bottom-line is that the research input is a little bit low”, he observed. “If we have a research institute which is geared towards addressing challenges in the sector, the attention will be brought to bear to ensure the horticulture industry grow from strength to strength and keep people in jobs”.

CSIR is the largest scientific research organization in Ghana, operating under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The Council’s 13 research institutes are spread nationwide, with mandates covering specialized areas in agriculture and agro-processing, industry, environment, building and road construction, fisheries, forestry, water resources, the social sciences and some aspects of health.

The proposal for CSIR’s 14^th institution has been approved by the Board and expected to be presented to sector minister for cabinet consideration.

Dr. Salifu indicated the new Institute is likely to be situated in the Brong Ahafo region, which is the only region where the CSIR has yet to establish an institute.

The activity of horticulture also needs to be undertaken in a transition zone where the savanna and forest areas overlap, he noted.

Dr. Salifu would not give timelines as to how soon the project will take off but noted the necessary documentation will be presented to the sector Minister for government’s approval.

Meanwhile, the CSIR Director-General is seeking a review of the core science textbooks for students in second cycle institutions, to reflect modern innovations in science and technology.

The CSIR currently has about 500 Research Scientists with varied specialized disciplines and expertise, who all play significant roles in contributing to Ghana’s economic growth and development.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Technology commercialization company for Ghana

Ghana’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) says it is on track in the establishment of a technology commercialization company.

The ‘CSIR Plus’ company was incorporated in 2009 to run as a public-private sector venture, functionally independent from the mainstream corporate CSIR management.

Director-General of the Council, Dr. Abdulai Baba Salifu, says the initiative is to further enhance the corporate goal of generating science and technology products for the benefit of society.

He said the business should take off as soon as a Chief Executive Officer is engaged to take charge of operations.

“One of the reasons why we’re slightly behind in actualizing it has been the issue of a chief executive who is ready to grow the company because for now, we don’t think we may be competitive in terms of the remuneration level we may need to pay that person”, noted Dr. Salifu.

CSIR is the largest scientific research organization in Ghana, operating under the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) and collaborates with all the other Ministries particularly the Ministries of Food and Agriculture, Land and Forestry, Health, and Education. 

There are 13 research institutes under the Council with mandates covering specialized areas in agriculture and agro-processing, industry, environment, building and road construction, fisheries, forestry, water resources, the social sciences and some aspects of health.

Some of the institutes have over the years developed and released improved crop varieties and their production technologies.

 

The CSIR-Plus has the primary purpose of identifying and commercializing CSIR technologies and services on sound business lines.

The objective is to consolidate and develop commercialization linkages with CSIR and industry, government agencies and the investment community.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh