Lancaster and Ghanaian researchers from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Crops Research Institute (CSIR – CRI) introduced a water-saving irrigation technique to rice farmers.

Rice is a water-intensive crop, especially during its early growth stages, requiring 3,000 litres of water to produce a kilogram of rice, more than three times as much as an equivalent amount of wheat. While the monsoon period in tropical climates provides water in abundance, the burgeoning demand for rice means it often needs to be ‘double-cropped’, where farmers plant and harvest one rice crop in the wet season, then plant and harvest a second in the dry season.

Changing monsoon patterns mean farmers need to increase their climate resilience if the expected rains do not materialise, making them increasingly dependent on scarce irrigation resources.

Lancaster and Ghanaian researchers working with the CSIR - CRI introduced a water-saving rice irrigation technique to smallholders known as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD). This system alternately floods rice paddies and allows them to dry, rather than being kept continuously flooded – with results showing a 30% reduction in water use without any effects on rice yields.

The initial project was part of the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) project, RECIRCULATE – a collaborative partnership between Lancaster University researchers and a growing pan-African network of research-led institutions – has now been rolled out to the commercial sector to continue the trials. This network has now been extended to 12 Sub-Saharan African Countries and approximately 30 partners across academic, private, policy and community sectors and is framed under the Africa Research and Innovation Partnership (ARIP).

Last year, Newage Agric Solutions Ltd successfully hosted an AWD trial as part of a GCRF AgriFood Africa Innovation Award and has additional funding from an African Agriculture Knowledge Transfer Partnership (AAKTP) to upscale delivery across the Weta irrigation district.

This African Agriculture Knowledge Transfer Partnership (AAKTP) project is funded by UK Research & Innovation through Innovate UK, KTPs have been running since 1975, and bring together universities, research institutes and businesses to work together on development projects strategically important to the future of the business. African Agriculture Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (AAKTPs) are a partnership between a UK Knowledge Base, and a Knowledge Base and Business Partner in one of the following countries: Republic of Ghana, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Republic of Kenya or Republic of South Africa.

Martin Nartey, General Manager at Newage Agric Solutions Ltd said: “Our collaboration with Lancaster University and the CRI is a testament to the power of unity in advancing agricultural science and technology by merging academic excellence with cutting-edge research and industry expertise, ensuring food security for generations to come.”

Eugene Zori, also of Newage Agric Solutions Ltd and involved in the earlier Innovation Award, said: “We are transforming research into reality to drive sustainable growth and resilience in the agricultural sector.”

The project will allow CSIR – CRI to employ Mr Vincent Opoku Agyemang at Newage Agric Solutions Ltd office in Weta where he will evaluate the responses of different Ghanaian rice cultivars to AWD irrigation, including their flagship, locally produced, Evivi long grain rice. Vincent Opoku Agyemang, KTP Associate said: “It is a privilege to be part of this collaborative effort between Lancaster University, CRI, and Newage Agric Solutions Ltd. Together, we aim to transfer a smart agricultural water-saving technology to enhance the yields and livelihoods of rice farmers in Weta. This partnership will be crucial in achieving zero hunger and improving livelihoods, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2.”

Climate change has limited irrigation supplies at Weta in recent years, so reducing water use while maintaining yield is critical to enable smallholder farmers across the area to produce more rice for their communities. Dr Stephen Yeboah and Dr Patricia Amankwaa-Yeboah of CRI said “It is great to work with Newage Agric Solutions Ltd to translate research output to smallholder farmers in Weta. We look forward to sharing our expertise on water and nutrient innovations in rice production to contribute to Vincent’s development as a KTP Associate.”

Ian Dodd, Professor of Sustainable Agriculture at Lancaster University said: “At an ARIP meeting in Accra last year, it was clear the commercial sector was interested in trialling AWD on a much larger scale than our previous small plot experiments. Those discussions formed the basis of our successful bid for Innovate UK funding with Newage Agric Solutions Ltd, which advances both the sustainability of agricultural water use and our research collaboration. Having previously been involved in delivering a KTP within the UK, I am convinced this project will offer a fantastic training opportunity for Vincent and provide considerable value to Newage Agric Solutions Ltd.”