Fumesua, Ashanti Region – The Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Hon. John Dumelo, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to advancing agroecological and circular economy innovations during his recent visit to the CSIR-Crops Research Institute’s Multicultural Technology Park (MTP) at Fumesua.

Though unable to attend the Open Day and commissioning earlier in the month, Hon. Dumelo toured the park with his entourage and the ACE4ES Consortium team, learning firsthand about technologies designed to transform Ghana’s agricultural systems.

These include composting and biochar units, rice-duck-fish symbiotic systems, biogas digesters, rotational grazing paddocks, and advanced instruments for monitoring methane, nitrous oxide, tropospheric ozone, and black carbon emissions.
The Deputy Minister commended CSIR-CRI and the ACE4ES Consortium for spearheading innovations that not only raise farm productivity but also reduce harmful emissions. He emphasized the Ministry’s readiness to scale these technologies nationally and integrate them into agricultural policy frameworks.

During a presentation by Prof. Maxwell Darko Asante, Director of CSIR-CRI, a request was made for the reinstatement of the Best Researcher Award, a recognition program previously linked to the National Best Farmers Award Scheme. In response, Hon. Dumelo pledged to reinstate the award under his mandate as Chairperson of the National Best Farmers Award Scheme, describing it as vital for motivating scientists whose innovations drive agricultural transformation.

“Our farmers succeed because our researchers innovate. It is only right that we celebrate both sides of this partnership. I commit to reinstating the Best Researcher Award as part of the National Best Farmers Award Scheme,” Hon. Dumelo affirmed.

The visit underscored a stronger alignment between research, policy, and practice in Ghana’s agricultural development. With the MTP serving as a living laboratory for innovation, the Deputy Minister’s pledge further highlights the critical role of recognition and policy support in sustaining agroecology and circular economy solutions for climate resilience and food security.