Integrated pest management rice demonstration carried out at Adaklu
Research Extension Linkage Committee (RELC) sessions provide fora for actors along the value chain to deliberate on issues confronting the day-to-day activities in the agricultural sector. The RELC is an initiative of the Ministry of Food and Agricultures that provides linkage among Researchers, Farmers and Agricultural Extension Officers. The RELC is found at the District, Regional and National Levels.
In the year 2021 , under the auspices of the Regional Department of Agriculture, the RELC brought together researchers, staff from the various Municipal and District Departments of Agriculture, farmers (both livestock and crop farmers), processors, input dealers, market aggregators, and financial institutions, among others to deliberate on issues affecting agriculture and find possible solutions to them. The challenges identified during the engagement were categorized into three, namely Policy (problems that require central government or local government attention), Extension (problems that will be addressed by the Department of Agriculture) and Research (problems to be addressed by the Research Institutions).
Some of the challenges raised included problem associated with rice production, particularly the yield, pest and disease infestation.
To harmonize constraints affecting rice production as identified above and address them, Researchers from the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Department of Agriculture from April to August 2022 established a Validation Demonstration Trail Centre in the Adaklu District. The Centre was established using an integrated approach that works well within the agro-ecological zone. The Validation Demonstration Trial Centre would serve as a training and capacity building platform for rice farmers.
Four new rice varieties were on trial following a well-developed laid down protocol. Some rice farmers in the Adaklu District benefited from the demonstration.
The Research Institution after the demonstration trail is yet to come out with its official findings. However, it was observed that some of the varieties are better yielding and more resistant to pests and diseases.
