A group of researchers from the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CANS) have advocated the use of biochar in vegetable production. Biochar is a charcoal product that is produced from plant matter and stored in the soil. According to the researchers, biochar is widely known to improve water, reduce soil acidity and retain soil nutrients for plant and crop utilization. They made this known during a one-day Farmer Field Day held at the UCC Technology Village. The ongoing research, led by Dr. Kwame Agyei Frimpong of the Department of Soil Science, is being funded by the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC). The researchers noted that when farmers adopt biochar, deforestation would become a thing of the past.   Presenting partial findings of the research to some selected Small Holder Farmers, a member of the team, Dr. Martin Bosompem, said that the use of charcoal to improve soil fertility started in some parts of Brazil several years ago. He added that biochar could be created from a wide variety of feed stocks, including corn cobs, rice husk, cocoa husk, cow dung, poultry manure, saw dust, among others. He pointed out that residue of household charcoal could also be used for the production of biochar.    Consequently, he explained to the farmers that since biochar could be made from numerous feedstock and in different ways, its characteristics and impact on plant health could vary. He indicated that the effects of biochar on farmlands would be felt for many years and farmers could enjoy its immense benefits for a long time, stressing that “Biochar is cost effective as compared with the price of chemical fertilizer”. He took participants through the process of creating biochar and later took them to the farm at the Technology Village to show them crops with biochar application and crops without biochar. However, it was observed that crops planted on the same day with biochar had grown better than those without biochar. He advised farmers to use safety tools such as nose masks, goggles, gloves, among others, when applying biochar on their farmlands. The lead Researcher, Dr. Kwame Agyei Frimpong, said the aim of the research was to educate farmers on the need to maintain soil fertility with the use of biochar. At the end of the research, Dr. Frimpong said the team hoped to find out the rate of biochar that would be applicable to different soils under different conditions and variety of crops. He said the team would also assist farmers on how they could produce biochar cheaply and apply them easily on their farmlands. He called on farmers to take soil fertility seriously and seek professional guidance on fertilizer, compost and biochar applications. He appealed to them to form an association to champion their cause. The participants also expressed gratitude to the research team for the eye opener and appealed for more education on how to preserve the land with biochar.  

Dr. Royrickers Cook has met with the Chief and Elders of Agona Asafo in the Agona East District of the Central Region to find ways of improving the lives of the people in the community. Speaking at the meeting, the Omanhen of Agona Asafo, Nana Nyamfo Essuako XI, on behalf of the people, expressed appreciation to Dr. Cook for the visit and assured him of the preparedness of Asafoman to partner him to bring development to the area. Nana Nyamfo Essuako XI, who is also the Nyinfahen of Agonaman, reiterated that the people of the area were basically farmers and, therefore, looking forward to how the partnership could help improve on that enterprise to alleviate poverty, as well as adding value to their produce. The Omanhen also mentioned that through the ingenuity and generosity of some friends abroad, a community library had been put up to improve education in the town. According to him, the facility lacked some materials such as books, computers and internet connectivity; and other modern tools for teaching and learning. In view of this, he appealed to Dr. Cook and his team to assist in that direction.  He also appealed to Dr. Cook to help put up a Cocoa processing facility in the community to facilitate value addition to cocoa produced in the area. It would be recalled that Dr. Cook, who is the Vice President of University Outreach and Associate Provost at the Auburn University (AU) in the United States of America, was installed the Nkosuohen (Development Chief) of Asafo early in the year. He thanked the chiefs and people for the warm reception accorded him and his team. He said the visit had given him an insight of the area, saying he would continue to educate himself more about Cocoa and its production and other products that could be obtained from it.He assured that he would endeavour to secure some books and computers for the community library. That, he indicated, would boost both learning and computer literacy among students in the catchment area and beyond.  As part of the visit, Dr. Cook was taken on a tour of some Cocoa farms at Asafo to acquaint himself with the production of the cash crop. An indigene of Agona Asafo, Prof. George K.T. Oduro, who facilitated the partnership with Dr. Cook, said the area has an aggregation of more than a thousand acres of cocoa farms and could constantly supply a processing plant that is put up there with quality beans. Prof. Oduro, who is also the Pro Vice-Chancellor, was happy that both the Member of Parliament of the area, Queenstar Pokuah Sawyerr and the District Chief Executive, Dennis Armah Frimpong were present at the meeting.“The presence of both the MP and DCE means we at Agona East have moved beyond politics”, he stressed.   Dr. Cook was accompanied on the visit by the Coordinator, Outreach Global at AU, Dr. Elizabeth Essamuah-Quansah and a businessman and an Alumnus of Auburn University, Mr. Reginald Moss.  

A visiting Fulbright Scholar from the North Carolina A & T State University, USA, Prof. Paul Drikomah, has donated assorted books to the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Presenting the books, which cover areas in hospitality management and tourism management , Prof. Ankomah said he would continue to make such donations to stock the Department’s library to improve teaching and learning.He was confident that the books would be used for their intended purposes to enhance effective research by both lecturers and students at the Department. Prof. Ankomah encouraged the students to remain resolute and focus on their dreams, stressing that, “There is nothing that you cannot do. Once you put your mind on anything, everything is possible.” He advised the students to make good use of the library to improve their studies and enhance their academic success. For his part, the Head of the Department, Prof. Kwaku Boakye, who received the items on behalf of the Department, thanked Prof. Ankomah for the kind gesture and added that the donation would go a long way to help the students in their studies. He advised the students to read the books because “knowledge is mostly found in books.”   He called on philanthropists and  non- governmental organisations  to emulate Prof. Ankomah's kind gesture.  

The Director of Physical Development and Estate Management, (DPDEM) Mr. Philip Ntim, has officially handed over keys of the refurbished Academic Board Chamber to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, at a short ceremony. Presenting the keys to the Vice-Chancellor, the Director of DPDEM said the renovation works were done by staff of the Directorate with Internally Generated Funds (IGF). Prof. Ampiah, who officially opened the Chamber, thanked staff of DPDEM for doing a professional work.  He later led other members of the Academic Board to inspect the chamber and later held the first meeting for the semester at the same venue.