The International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) and Ghana National Fertilizer Council (GNFC), has equipped the University of Cape Coast's International Modelling and Mapping Centre (IMMC) with Six high performing computers and RTK Drone to help improve agriculture productivity in the country.
According to the Head of Department Prof Benjamin Kofi Nyarko, this multidisciplnary centre is a collaboration between two Departments, Geography and Regional Planning and Soil Science. In his speech he stated that the UCC International Modelling and Mapping Centre hosted by the Department of Geography and Regional Planning was established to strengthen the capacity of both IFDC and UCC in modelling and mapping in agricultural sciences (MMAS).
The Provost of College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng and IFDC Vice President of Programmes, Dr. Oumou Camara, jointly cutting the tape to open the Centre.
Speaking at the opening of the Centre, Dr. Prem Bindraban (IFDC Programme Leader, FERARI Project), noted that his organisation was committed to its partnership with the University of Cape Coast to deploy technology to improve agriculture and ensure food security in Ghana and by extension Africa.
Dr. Bindraban indicated that agriculture remains the backbone of many economies and there must be concerted effort to boost agriculture productivity through technology.
According to Dr. Prem Bindraban, agriculture should be made appealing with the integration of technology to attract the youth.
“We need to create a better future with technology for the future generation” he stressed.
He said the donation signify a strong collaboration between IFDC and UCC to address issues affecting the agriculture sector.
In her remark, Dr. Oumou Camara, IFDC Vice President of Programmes called for intensified research into sustainable agriculture.
We have to focus on producing the next level of scientists to address problems such as soil degradation.
The officials from IFDC and UCC taking a tour of the Centre
She commended UCC for collaborating with IFDC to find innovative and scientific solutions to tackle problems in the agriculture sector.
The Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng who represented the Vice-Chancellor of UCC said the University is ready to utilise the computers for its intended purpose.
The IFDC officials with the Head of Geography and Regional Planning
UCC is positioned to cooperate with IFDC and GNFC in the following areas:
- Exchange of students (e.g., for internship at IFDC)
- Integrate lectures on modelling and mapping for agriculture by IFDC staff into courses of UCC.
- Collaboration on research topics with UCC staff
- Collaboration to develop the required hardware infrastructure to perform heavy duty modelling and mapping exercise.
As the topmost ranked University in Ghana, West Africa and the fourth in Africa we will continue to engage IFDC to engage in research activities that would significantly enhance agriculture productivity for local consumption and export.
Present at the ceremony were some officials of IFDC and UCC.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC