Technoserve to hold 'field day' for farmers

Sunyani (B/A), Aug. 15, GNA - Technoserve Ghana, a Non-Governmental International business development organization will this year host two separate farmers' 'Field day' in the Brong-Ahafo Region. The Field Days would be held at Buoku in the Wenchi district on Friday, August 19 and Kintampo in the Kintampo district on Tuesday, August 30, a press release from the organisation signed by Mr. Anthony Cobbah, its Deputy Country Director.

The "Field day" is expected to focus on the performance of improved varieties of maize, with accompanying recommended practices, to farmers. The programmes would be held in collaboration with the Crops Research Institute (CRI) and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to demonstrate the performance of improved varieties of maize and make recommendations on the appropriate practices to farmers.

The essence of maize demonstrations, the release further explained, is to enable farmers to observe the outstanding performance of improved maize including the new "MAMABA" hybrid and the appropriate agronomic practices that allow them to express their full yield potential. "MAMABA" is quality-protein hybrid maize developed in 1996 and it is capable of yielding five to seven metric tonnes of grain per hectare, as against the low yield of 1.5 tons per hectare obtained from known local varieties.

A number of open pollinated maize varieties such as 'Dorke', 'Okomasa' and 'Obatampa', which have been developed and cultivated by farmers in the region for some years have yields about 1.5 tons to 2.1 tons less than that of 'MAMABA'. 15 Aug. 05