CSIR-STEPRI has hosted a one day symposium to discuss the effects of the fall army worm on Agriculture in the country.
Since early 2016, the Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera Frugiperda) has been reported to be devastating crops, mainly maize in Africa. This moth, originally a native of the tropical regions of the Americas and the Caribbean region has now been accidentally introduced to Africa and within one-and-half years it has spread to about 37 countries on our continent and still counting. It is its larvae (caterpillar) that destroys crops.
The Ghana National Learning Alliance under the Sustainable Agricultural Intensification Research and Learning in Africa (SAIRLA) program organized a policy symposium on the theme “Excessive Use of Chemicals in the Management of Fall Armyworm:
Implications on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification in Ghana” with the aim of igniting the necessary experiential, technical and academic debates around it leading to the generation of appropriate policy actions for a more practical and sustainable approach to handling the Fall Armyworm (FAW) epidemic in Ghana. The symposium took place on Wednesday, 30th August 2017 at the Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (STEPRI), CSIR Conference Room at 9:30am and the main speaker was Dr. Victor Attuquaye Clottey of the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) who presented a paper on the topic. This was followed by submissions by panelists (Dr. Michael Osae and Mr. Bob Adjakloe) from strategically-selected institutions. The symposium was also coupled with comments, suggestions and questions from the audience for further clarification.
This symposium brought together key stakeholders within the agricultural industry in Ghana including the public and private sector players as well as representatives of relevant non-governmental organizations and civil society groups. Specifically, participants at this symposium includes:
- MoFA Officials (PPRSD, PPBD, CSD, AED and APD)
- Representatives of Input Dealer Associations
- Representatives from Farmer Organizations
- Representatives from Research Institutions
- Representatives from International Development Organizations (WFP, FAO, etc.)
- Representatives from the Media