The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) will be embarking on research activities to rid the country of soil acidity.
The Director General, Prof. Paul Bosu says the move has become necessary as the situation threatens food security in the country.
“I’m directing them to put more resources into research which can help the soil recover from the acidic nature, otherwise you’ll plant the crops and we wouldn’t meet our expectations,” he said.
He was speaking at the 273rd directors management committee meeting and staff durbar at Kwadaso.
Soil acidity has been known to impede crop production as it further limits the availability of nutrients such as phosphorus to plants.
“If these nutrients are adequate in the soil and the soil is acidic, still the plants cannot make use of the nutrients. So, it’s important we address soil acidity. Across the country, our soils are very acidic,” said Director of Soil Research Institute, Dr. Edward Yeboah.
Prof. Bosu hinted at the establishment of the CSIR endowment fund to support research activities.
He believes the fund which will be launched in 2023 will support the national research fund and help carry out indigenous research activities.
“CSIR research is largely funded from external sources and that leaves us at the beck and call of their programmes.
“We want to create the fund that can support us at the period where we’re not getting support from external sources,” he said.
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