Fall Army Worm invasion: Crops Research decries lack of support

The Crop Research Institute has decried lack of government support in fighting the Fall Armyworm invasion.

The Director of the Institute, Dr Stella Ama Ennin, said support received by the Institute is channelled into the screening of insecticides developed in other countries. 

Speaking at the Africa Scientific Renaissance Day in Kumasi, she said research into breeding maize plants which are resistant to the pest will be a lasting solution. 

Dr Ennin said the Institute have some donors helping but it is only supporting aspects that are of interest to them.

An entomologist at the Institute Dr Kofi Frimpong-Anin, hinted of a model to predict the movement of the pest which will be completed by 2019. 

A similar system which has been developed for the Africa Armyworm is expected to bring down the pest population.

A Senior Lecturer at the Chemistry Department, KNUST, Dr Godfred Darko, has urged government to beef up the country’s research capacity to accelerate development. 

He said collaboration between academia and industry has, therefore, become crucial. 

The Africa Scientific Renaissance Day is set aside by the AU to remind African governments and people of the critical role that science and Technology play in national development.

SOURCE: GNA
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