Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The sizes of plots cultivated by female farmers varied from a minimum of 0.02
to a maximum of 0.11 hectares with a mean of 0.06 hectares, confirming the
preliminary findings that most of the women farmers cultivate small plots which
they manage very well.
Conclusion and the way forward
Two of the identified indigenous rice varieties in the Gore community have high
yield potential and compare very well with improved varieties. They also have
unique properties that make them preferred by the women farmers.
The researchers therefore intend to continue to work with the women farmers and
the community as a whole to promote the sustainable production of these promising
rice varieties. This recommendation does not imply that only indigenous rice varieties
should be promoted, but that there is a need to give the farmers wider choice and
help them perfect their skills in selecting desirable genotypes for their environment.
The issue of availability or adequacy of seed of indigenous rice varieties for
planting remains unresolved. From these studies, no formal seed systems exist
in the area and farmers plant their fields annually from seed reserved from the
previous harvest or by buying from relatives, colleagues, and friends. Such
seed exchanges can result in spontaneous crossings between varieties and wild
relatives, thus introducing new materials into the existing local gene pool.
There is a need to empower the women to enable them to multiply seed of the
indigenous rice varieties to meet their immediate needs and those of other farm-
ers within and outside their community. Support for seed production should also
focus on improved storage management, seed health, and purity. Establishment of
seed banks in the community where individual farmers' seed or community seed
is stored would be particularly helpful. Seed and food fairs based on the indige-
nous rice varieties have been organized by the farmers and the northern Ghana
PLEC team both at Gore and during national meetings of Ghana PLEC, and the
potential value of the indigenous rice varieties confirmed.
The
in-situ
conservation of indigenous rice varieties by the women of Gore is
thus a success story that needs to be sustained and built upon.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to WAPLEC for funding the studies. The field assistance
given by technical staff of the Manga Research Station, headed by Mr Joseph Ali,
as well as the activities of Moses Aduko and Simon Asaro at the Kusanaba site,
are highly appreciated. The late Charles Anane-Sakyi pioneered this work and the
authors wish to dedicate it to his memory.
