Sunyani MCE joins CSIR to inspect Taro demonstration field

The Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, Hon Ansu Kumi has joined a group of researchers from the Crops Research Institute(CSIR) to inspect a Taro (Colocasia esculenta) demonstration fields set up by the Sunyani Municipal Agriculture Department and sponsored by the Modernizing Agriculture (MAG) programme in conjunction with the government of Ghana.

Taro over the years is almost extinct due to factors such as the indiscriminate application of weedicides and the taro blight disease.

Taro is a multifaceted agricultural product that can be used for a variety of local meals such as Fufu, Nuhuu, taro Chips and many more, yet, the aforementioned factors have almost rendered this important economic crop extinct.

Due to this, the government of Ghana through its Modernizing Agricultural Agent from Canada and the ingenuity of CSIR developed and raised the following suitable varieties to defeat the disease and other factors for farmers to realize the economic benefits of the crops.

The demonstration site which is located at Mensakrom in the Yawhima Electoral Area within the Municipality saw interested farmers joining the team with the hope of venturing into the Taro production.

The site was very swampy and flooded with the presence of the blight disease from the onset of the demonstration exercise, yet all the varieties are firm and being monitored until harvesting to ascertain the veracity of the improved varieties.

The varieties are _CRI-Huogbelor, CRI-Asempa, CRI-Agyenkwa, CRI- Yen anya woa.

The Sunyani East MCE Hon Ansu Kumi expressed satisfaction with the project and pledged to support everything Agricultural in his Municipality. He also urged the farmers to take the observations seriously and do their best in bringing back the almost extinct crop.

"I am particularly very happy when it comes to Agricultural activities because I am a son of farmers and one myself and so let us employ the modern ways as directed by our able officers in the department to maximize our economic benefits," he maintained.

"I trust many more demonstrations are being championed in the Municipality and I intend to follow up and support the programmes in this field because agriculture is the way to go", the MCE said.

The Team was led by the Municipal Agricultural Director, Mr Ofosu Dankyira, Dr Mahama of CSIR, Mr Isaac Agyei Mensah ( Bono Regional extension Officer)