Research Projects have increased from 298 last year to 311 by September 2023, the Director General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Prof Paul Bosu has revealed.
Similarly, he added that the number of journal article publications has also increased from 129 in 2022 to 169 by September this year.
However, he indicated that much could not be said of obtaining intellectual property rights and patents which are key outputs of Research and Development noting that a Research and Development policy document has been developed to streamline research activities.
Prof Bosu made these revelations at the 34th Research Staff Association (RSA) Annual General Meeting & and 5th Scientific Conference of CSIR at Kade in the Kwaebibrem district of the Eastern Region.
Held on the theme: "Diversification of agricultural systems: The Role of Tree Crops in Harnessing Ghana's Economic Potential" the event brought together researchers, development partners, and graduate students from various disciplines to engage in discussions about the diversification of Ghana's agricultural systems to unlock its economic potential.
Prof. Bosu said the issue of funding continues to be a matter of great concern to CSIR therefore encouraging scientists to continue to explore funding opportunities for research grants.
"I, therefore, urge all of us to step up efforts to do more as at the corporate level, we are working hard through the Grants and Projects Office to facilitate opportunities for researchers" he stated.
He announced the launching of the CSIR endowment Fund next year which is aimed at alleviating some of the difficulties that young scientists face when writing project proposals.
Mr. William Agyapong Quaittoo, Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), commended CSIR-RSA members for their role and support in research.
He said the tree crop development authority was well positioned to improve the alignment of the CSIR research agenda with market demands through mediating between research institutions, investors, and producer constituencies to ensure that output, products, and technologies were relevant to market needs.
In line with this, he said, the central focus of their activities was to enhance the availability of high-quality planting materials for selected high-potential varieties and corollary services that meet the needs of farmers, investors, and markets.
This entailed fostering supply chains for these materials, especially orchestrating the generation and dissemination of an enhanced supply of seedlings to private nursery operators and the downstream supply of seedlings to producers in concert with corollary services such as grafting and inputs.
The Ghana government had secured 100 million dollars in funding to finance these interventions in the tree crop sector, Mr. Quaittoo added, through the "Ghana Tree Crops Diversification Project."
He said the interventions focused on strengthening institutions and governance within value chains, enhancing productivity and climate resilience, and providing support for post-harvest management, value addition, and market access.
He further explained that TCDA had allocated $11 million to research activities involving coconut, rubber, and cashew.
The funds he said will be shared among various research institutes, including CSIR-Oil Palm Research Institute, CSIR-Crops Research Institute/ College of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, among others, to support market-driven research proposals.
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Again, a significant amount of the fund, totaling over US 30 million dollars, has been designated for the development of high-quality planting material supply chains.
The project is set to commence in November of this year, according to Mr. Quaittoo, and requires thorough market-driven research for successful execution.
Dr. Kofi Ampomah-Benefo, the National President of the RSA, provided an overview of the association's membership, which consists of the Research and Principal Technologist Grade Staff of CSIR.
He said it was created to be the leading source of information for science, technology, and innovation to support national development.
