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Research scientists brainstorm on new rice breeding technology
The research scientists after the programme
An international training workshop on new rice breeding technology has taken place here.
The training has been necessitated by the fact that the conventional method of rice breeding has become old and called for new technologies that could result in a faster, rapid and precise breeding.
Dubbed, “Accelerated Breeding Modernisation for Hi- Impact Rice Breeding, the four-day training brought scientists from Ghana,Senegal, Tanzania, Mozambique, Nigeria, India and Zimbabwe to the Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-CRI),at Fumesua, near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region.
Speed breeding to shorten breeding cycle, smart breeding to enhance selection accuracy, breeding programme to enhance genetic gains, were some of the topics at stake.
According to Dr. Sanjay K. Katiyar, project coordinator, the global climate change was having a negative toll on rice production and to tackle that, there was the need for varieties that could grow very fast toward food security in Africa and the world as a whole.
Dr. Katiyar, who is a breeding modernisation lead at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), said there had been lot of surveys conducted in Africa which revealed the need to modernise the conventional way of breeding rice toward food security in the face of global climate change.
“We need to modernise the conventional method that has been in use for the past 60 years to be able to deliver high yielding crop varieties…there are now better ways or technologies for that”,he emphasised.
He said that the new technologies had nothing to do with the genetic modification, stressing “this is not an implementation of Genetic Modified Organism(GMO),we are only modernising the conventional system”.
Dr. Maxwell Darko Asante, Deputy Director of the CSIR-CRI, in an interview appealed to the government to operationalise the National Research Fund.
He explained that rice breeding was an expensive venture and needed heavy investment and stressed the importance of government to commit some amount of money to agricultural research in the country.
Dr.Asante observed that 1.4 million tonnes of rice was consumed yearly in Ghana while approximately half of that was produced, and that there was the need for government to be more dedicated to producing rice in the country to avoid huge amount of money used for its importation.
“We need heavy investment, without which the impact of our technologies and varieties would not be felt”,he noted, adding that government could dedicate about one per cent of the gross domestic product towards agricultural research in the country.
From Kingsley E.Hope, Fumesua
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
