The Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Institute (BNARI) of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), on Wednesday inaugurated a Compost and Laboratory facility for the production of quality organic-based fertilizers.

The facility, a collaborative effort between the Commission, CHF International, entrepreneurs in new sanitation, renewable energy and bio-fertilizer, and SafiSana Ghana Limited, a waste management company, was constructed at 50,000 Euros.

Professor Benjamin J.B. Nyarko, Director-General, GAEC, explained that the compost from organic fractions of agricultural, agro-industrial and municipal wastes would be beneficial for urban and peri-urban agriculture as well as traditional agriculture and landscaping.

He said the facility would serve as a training centre for the youth and farmers as well as local and foreign students in waste management for agricultural use, land degradation, climate change mitigation and bio-remediation.

Madam Salamata Abdul Salam, Chief Director, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), who deputised for the Sector Minister, Ms Sherry Ayittey, noted that reduction in crop yield due to degraded lands in Africa had been estimated to range between two per cent and 50 per cent.

“An economic cost analysis of poverty implications of land degradation predicts that land degradation would reduce agricultural income in Ghana by a total of 4.2 billion dollars over the period between 2006 and 2015, accounting for approximately five per cent of total agricultural gross domestic product,” she said.

Madam Salam said it was in the light of the foregoing that the conversion of readily available resources such as sewage sludge into useful products, notably compost, must be adopted without further delay.

She commended all the partners involved in the project and called for a sustained collaboration for maximum impact and benefit to Ghanaians.

Madam Salam indicated that construction of the facility marked a great milestone which would contribute meaningfully to a safe environment for Ghanaians by ensuring efficient waste, while utilising the compost generated would enhance food production and ensure food security in the country.

She called for further collaboration between other like-minded institutions and stakeholders to strengthen BINARI to carry out its vision for establishing the plant, especially as an educational facility, develop and promote the use of organic fertilizer from waste materials, share knowledge of composting, train more youth and farmers in organic agriculture to help improve soil fertility, quality and productivity.

Mr. Raymond Okrofu, Country Director, SafiSana Ghana, explained that the company’s decision to partner BINARI stemmed from the firm belief that the facilities and the human resources of the Institute would give them reliable data for strategising on how to convert the huge tonnes of waste generated daily into useful products and increased income for farmers.

He called for intensified support from individual ministries such as the Food and Agriculture, Local Government and Rural Development, MEST and Education, in their efforts to serve the public and ensure accelerated national development.**