Tamale, April 28, GNA - Mr Sylvester Adonogo, Northern Regional Director of Food and Agriculture, on Wednesday charged researchers in food production to intensify their efforts to address factors making agriculture unattractive and unrewarding in Northern Ghana. He regretted that even though there were large tracks of fertile land and immense water sources in the three Northern regions, the people had remained the poorest in the country.

Mr Adonogo was addressing researchers and experts in food production at the opening of a three-day workshop on a research project in Tamale.

The project dubbed: "Empowering farming communities in the Northern Ghana with strategic innovations and productive resources in dry land farming", aims at finding alternatives to help farmers increase their output.

About 60 participants, comprising Agricultural researchers, extension officers, NGO's and Agriculture policy makers are attending the forum, which is on the theme: "Producing more food per drop of water".

Mr Adongo noted the importance of research to Agriculture and said through research, the problems facing Agriculture in Northern Ghana, especially sustainable food production for the majority of the people, would be solved.

He called on the government and donors agencies to help address the man-made factors that militate against the attainment of food security and wealth creation in the three northern regions.

Dr Abdul Baba Salifu, Director of Savana Agriculture Research Institute (SARI), said the institute would intensify research to enhance food security.

He announced that SARI had developed cassava genotype that will meet the quality required for cassava research for the PSI on cassava. He said a research team had released three other cassava varieties suitable for deployment by the PSI on cassava. 28 Apr. 04Herewith with an update of NECO 06 of Tuesday slugged "VLTC Fares" identifying Mr Agbemabiesse in Para four.