The land area of Ghana is about two-thirds of Japan, and the climate is broadly divided into humid tropical climate of Atlantic coast and savanna climate of north inland. Tamale, the capital city of Northern Region, is the fourth largest city in Ghana, which is more than 600 km north of Accra and about 10 hours by car. On June 25 ~ 28, the JIRCAS regional representative for Africa, Dr. Dan, visited Tamale, where several test fields of the research projects of JIRCAS 3rd Medium-Term Plan ( YS 2011 – 2015) are located. During his visit, JIRCAS research projects were explained. In addition, Dr. Dan went to some collaboration institutes. At University for Development Studies (UDS), a joint research institute of the project “Soil fertility improvement in rice systems in sub-Sahara Africa” consigned by Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF), he met with the Dr. Israel K. Dzomeku, and presented JIRCAS’ appreciation for the last 5 years’ cooperation with the completion of the manual. At Savanna Agriculture Research Institute (SARI), a collaborator of Development of rice production technologies in Africa III (Deript III), he visited Dr. Wilson Dogbe and agreed to maintain the existing good relationship. During the stopping by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), he exchanged the opinions with Dr. Emmanuel Ofori and expressed JIRCAS’s desire to continue cooperation in the future. One of the problems faced by the agriculture sector of Ghana is the development gap between regions. Although the main industry in north region including Tamale is agriculture, the development of rural agriculture has fallen behind others. In the recent years, the government of Ghana has made many efforts to narrow the gap between the north and other regions by extending numerous agricultural organizations’ activities to the north. It is hoped that the agriculture of Ghana would be promoted by sharing information and research results and working closely　between research institutes. JIRCAS Africa Liaison will also want to enhance the relationship with related organizations.

JIRCAS Africa Liaison Office