Doris Yaa Osei
A senior research scientist of the CSIR-Animal Research Institute, Dr. Doris Yaa Osei, has noted that in spite of their contributions to the economic development in the country, women encounter challenges in accessing markets.
She made the observation while speaking during last Friday’s Farmers’ Day activities at the Adentan Municipal Assembly version of the annual event.
Women, according to her, “form an estimated 52% of the agricultural labour force and produce 70% of food crops and significant portion of the nation’s meat needs. They also constitute 90% of the labour force in the marketing of farm produce. However, women in agriculture often face barriers to accessing markets due to limited mobility, lack of information and gender-based discrimination.
Women, she said, “should therefore be given due recognition and empowered to contribute effectively to the nation’s food availability.”
On opportunities at the Animal Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-ARI) located in the Adentan Municipality, she said “the mission of ARI is to inspire efficiency and entrepreneurship in the Ghanaian livestock industry through technology development and innovative interventions for food security and wealth creation.”
The Institute, she said, has the capacity to provide appropriate technical knowledge and training to livestock farmers, both backyard and commercial, in the establishment and management of poultry, pig, rabbit, grasscutter, sheep, goat and cattle farms, and is willing to assist farmers in the municipality in the development of livestock farms and other livestock value chain ventures.
As a livestock production specialist by profession, with interest in the use of low cost feeding materials, such as crop residues and forages in feed to reduce cost of producing livestock feed which could constitute as much as 70% of the production cost, she explained that “the Adentan Municipality has large areas covered with high quality forages, including one of the best forages for livestock feeding, known as Stylosanthes, which unfortunately goes to waste in the municipality.”
Usage of such forages as shown by studies undertaken by the CSIR-Animal Research Institute, she went on, “if adopted by our livestock farmers in the Adentan Municipality could increase significantly the profit margin from livestock production.”
She appealed to all those interested in livestock farming to take advantage of the Animal Research Institute’s capacity in animal health and production to establish profitable backyard and commercial poultry and livestock farms.
The theme for this year’s activity was “Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience”.
By A.R. Gomda