This document summarizes the activities of various divisions within the Scientific and Industrial Research Council of Ghana's Crops Research Institute over 2012-2013. It discusses accomplishments and constraints faced by the Technical Communication and Publication Unit, Library, Biometrics and IT, Commercialization, and Scientific Secretary's Office. It provides an overview of seminars, field days, and workshops held on various agricultural topics. Major issues noted include inadequate staff and equipment, challenges ensuring participation in research planning meetings, and delayed submission of mandatory reports.

1. SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL OR FCOUNCIL CSIR
RESEARCH
GHANA
CSIR – CROPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
IN-HOUSE REVIEW & RESEARCH PLANNING
(MARCH 10 - 13, 2014)
I.S. Baning

2. COMMERCIALIZATION AND SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT SERVICES
DIVISION
BIOMETRICS + IT
- Biometrician
- Tech. Officer
- I T Manager
- I T Technicians (5)
TCPU
- Extension Specialists (2)
- Pub. Relns. Officer
- Other Sup. Staff (3)
COMMERCIAL UNIT
- Res. Scientist
- CTO
- Prin. Mkt. Assist
- Support Staff (11)
LIBRARY
- Librarian
- Assistants (2)
SCI. SEC.’S OFFICE
- Prin. Sci. Sec.
- Prin. Admin. Asst. (2)
- Secretary

3. Overview of Activities
TCPU:
1. Fact sheets on Cocoyam, Sweetpotato, Cassava
2. Production guides on Yam, Cocoyam, Sweetpotato
3. Training of Stakeholders in the Innovative Platforms
4. Coordination of IP Activities
Major Constraints
1. Inadequate staff
2. Lack of suitable office equipment

4. LIBRARY
Now has a new look!
1.Cataloguing, classification and re-arrangement of
library materials
2.Training Research scientists in accessing electronic
sources of information
3. Binding newspapers for reference purposes
Major constraints
1. Lack of personnel (need for male workers)
2. Lack of equipment (computers and accessories)
- Graduate School is in the offing

5. BIOMETRICS / Info. Tech.
• Our Internet facility is still crying for upgrading to meet
WAAPP sub-regional standards.
• IT staff continue to help despite the system failures
• Proposals with budget have been submitted for the
correction of some of the shortcomings (Website, Kwadaso,
Biotech. Lab.)
Thanks to DONATA for its assistance with an Internet
facility
Constraints
1. Lack of equipment
2. Only one Biometrician left (one has retired, the
new one has gone to school)

6. COMMERCIALIZATION
Struggling to live up to expectation
1. Sale of planting materials, Powdered pepper and fruits
2. Seed Processing Centre at Kwadaso to be given more
attention
3. Rice mill at Bibiani brings in more questions than money
4. Installation of a second rice mill continues to attract
debate (not funds) – estimates submitted
5. Management of CRI Guest houses ???
6. Use of Conference Room (challenges of non-payment)
Council Chairman’s challenges should ginger us up

7. SCIENTIFIC SECRETARY’S OFFICE
• Compilation of Statutory Reports
• Senior Members’ Promotion
• Completion of Questionnaires
• WAAPP Communication Activities
Major Constraints
• Work Overload and Irritating Deadlines
• Lack of Qualified Support Staff
• New computer needed

8. Meetings held with staff of the Division on Feb. , 2014
• Feedback from IMC meetings
• Leave Roster
• Communication Channel
• Attitude to Work
• Rights and Responsibilities (Conditions of Service)
• Imprest Retirement
• Setting up a Welfare Scheme
• Council Chairman’s Challenge (Income generation)

9. BASIC DUTIES
• Preparation of Statutory Reports
(Quarterly and Annual Reports)
• Organisation of Scientific Meetings
(Seminars, IRREP, Field Visits)
• Representing the Institute at Exhibitions and Fairs

10. Other Activities
• Involved in the Processing
of Applications for Promotion
from Senior Members
• Implementation of WAAPP
Communication Activities
•Provision Information to Enquirers
(incl. CSIR Head Office, students)
eg Completion of questionnaires

11. Summary of Accomplishments
(2012 /13)
 2012 Annual Report under Review
 2011 Annual Report ready for publishing
 2010 and 2009 Annual Reports published
 Quarterly Reports for 2012 and 2013 compiled,
edited and submitted to CSIR Head Office

12. Accomplishments
(continued)
 Applications for Promotion from Scientists
processed (with the Institute’s Promotion
Screening Committee)
 Two are pending
 In-house Review & Research Planning
sessions organised annually except 2013

13. Other accomplishments
(2012/13)
 Provided info. to enquirers on request.
 Organised over 20 Seminars
Some topics presented were:
- Planning towards Pension
- Why Projects Fail in the Public Sector
- Ethical Issues in Social Science Research

14. I presented seminars on
• Guidelines for Application for
Promotion for Research Scientists
(Errors continue to appear in applications)
• Statutory Reports
Scientists still using Forms 1 and 2 for Annual Reports
Omissions of important components
Incomplete and wrongly spelt names

15. (2012 /13 activities continued)
Other Activities
(in Pictures)

16. Tomato germplasm evaluation field at Kwadaso

17. Farmer Field Day on RYMV disease at Sokwae

18. Training Workshop on Innovation and
Technology Management in India

19. WAAPP Activities

20. Farmer Field Day at Ejura

22. Chaired a Committee to
Plan and Organize
WAAPP Regional Workshop
(November, 2012 at the NCOS)

23. WAAPP Regional Workshop at the NCOS

25. WB IS Mission to the NCOS,
Ejura and Wenchi

26. Planned Activities for 2014
Preparation of
 Annual Calendar of Activities
(copy presented to IMC)
 Statutory Reports (Quarterly and Annual)
 Organisation of Scientific Meetings
 In-house Review & Research Planning (on-going)
 Field Visits (depends on officers’ response)
 Seminars (if officers contribute seminar topics)

27. Major Issues of Concern
• My Request for an Agric. Graduate to
understudy me has not been heeded
• Delayed and non-submission of mandatory
reports by scientists to the Director
• Apathetic attitude of Senior Members to
scientific meetings (Seminars, Field visits,
IRREP)

28. IRREP
2014
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
Registered
Participants 137 128 133
Participants
at Closing 57 58 70

29. Shots from an IRREP Session: Evidence of Apathy

30. PUBLICATIONS
I.S. Baning (2014). The West Africa Agricultural
Productivity Programme (WAAPP):
An Overview of Ghana’s Role and
Achievements During Phase I and the
Way Forward
I.S. Baning (2014). CSIR-Crops Research Institute
I.S. Baning ( )The Role of Communication in
Increasing Agricultural Productivity

31. THANK YOU