Dr Leonard Rusinamhodzi, the project lead on R4D for the CocoaSoils Program and Abigail Tetteh, the research assistant In Accra, paid a 4-day working visit to the Mabang and Buako Core Trials sites in Ghana to observe progress on the implementation of the two trials. The team also used the visit to discuss upcoming activity plans and schedules with the technicians at the two sites.
At Mabang, managers are providing supplementary irrigation to help the trees withstand the stress of the dry season. At Buako, the new trial site established with funding from Mondelez, managers are harvesting the maize planted on the plot and laying the groundwork for the transfer of cocoa seedlings from the nursery to the plots in May and June 2022.
According to Dr Rusinamhodzi, both trials are well managed and activities are progressing very well.
“At Mabang, all the good agricultural practices are done on time and to the expected standards. The team has taken a pragmatic and effective strategy to ensure constant water supply to the trees despite challenges caused by the dry season,” he added.
