A climate-resilient rice production initiative has trained 160 lead farmers, nearly half of them women, across four districts in Ghana, equipping them with modern techniques to strengthen food security and promote sustainable agricultural practices.The training formed part of the Scaling Up Climate-Resilient Rice Production in West Africa (RICOWAS) project, funded by the Adaptation Fund and implemented by the

Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-CRI).

The intensive field training, held in December 2025, focused on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) alongside gender sensitisation, as part of efforts to promote climate-smart agriculture.

Training sessions were conducted in Wassa Amenfi West Municipal, Nyinahin, North Tongu and Jasikan, with 40 lead farmers selected in each district to champion improved crop, soil, water and nutrient management practices.

Dr Stephen Yeboah, Senior Research Scientist at CSIR-CRI and Project Lead for Southern Ghana, explained that “the System of Rice Intensification has emerged as a climate-smart approach that boosts yields through optimised management of resources while reducing environmental stress.”

Gender participation varied across the districts, with women constituting 58 per cent of participants at the Aveyime Irrigation Scheme in North Tongu, 47 per cent in Jasikan, 45 per cent in Nyinahin, and 19 per cent in Wassa Amenfi West.

Dr Joyce Haleegoah, Principal Research Scientist at CSIR-CRI and Gender Specialist, led the gender sensitisation sessions, stressing that “enhancing women’s participation and leadership in agriculture improves technology adoption, household food security and overall productivity.”

Practical field demonstrations compared SRI techniques with conventional rice farming methods. Farmers tested four CSIR-CRI rice varieties—CRI-Agyapa, CRI-Enapa, CRI-Koreamo and CRI-Agra—and observed improvements resulting from proper seedling establishment, spacing, water management and timely weeding.

According to the facilitators, these practices enhanced tillering, root development and yield performance. The demonstrations were hosted on lead farmers’ plots and supported by District Agricultural Directors and agricultural extension officers.

Despite strong interest in adopting the improved practices, participants cited limited access to mechanisation and post-harvest equipment as major constraints. Power tillers, planters, harvesters, threshers and winnowers remain scarce, reducing efficiency along the rice value chain.

In Wassa Amenfi West, high labour costs were attributed to competition from legal and illegal mining activities, which continue to draw workers away from agriculture. Meanwhile, farmers at Aveyime welcomed the ongoing rehabilitation of the irrigation scheme under the Ghana–South Korea KOICA partnership, but raised concerns about the shortage of skilled operators for heavy machinery.

Dr Yeboah encouraged farmers to form cooperatives to improve access to government support, development interventions and financing. “Legally recognised farmer groups strengthen bargaining power and create opportunities for equitable participation,” he noted.