UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION AND CULTIURAL STUDIES

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

THIRD TRIMESTER INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT REPORT COUNCIL FOR

SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH -SAVANNA AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH INSTITUTE (CSIR-SARI) NYANKPALA

SAAKA FALILATU SCC\0128\19

ADAM ABIBATA NASARA SCC\0095\19
NKANSAH PRECIOUS SCC\0047\18
ASIKISIMI ASIATEWON JUDE SCC\0119\19
ALHASSAN HAKAM SCC\OO38\18

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 PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The University for Development Studies (UDS), unlike other universities, runs a trimester-

based system which are the first, second and third trimesters. During the third trimester students

are being sent out to have field and working experience during the Third Trimester Field

Practical Program (TTFPP). This report is to give a feedback to the school and also a

breakdown of the activities that went on during the working period. We are open to any

comments on contents or style which would be given a severe consideration and concentration

in any future field works. We thank Almighty God for his guidance, mercy, grace and

protection throughout the entire trimester field work and participating in field visits, interviews,

videography, photography, graphic design and seminar presentations. Sincere gratitude goes the

immediate past acting director of CSIR-SARI, Dr Samuel Saaka and the current acting director,

Dr. Francis Kusi for their corporation and support during our stay and study in the institution,

we are grateful. To our able and competent supervisor and boss, Mr. Willhelm Nomu Kutah,

God richly bless you. He is the number one contributor to the success of this internship; we

cannot thank you enough. Our true appreciation goes to the institution’s management, staff and

lecturers for this great opportunity given to us to partake in this internship program. Lastly our

profound gratitude goes to Dr. Sumaya Ibrahim, Dr. Robert Owusu, and the entire

communication unit of CSIR-SARI. We say God almighty bless you all.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents Page

PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT......................................................................................................................ii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................................................v
CHAPTER ONE.........................................................................................................................................................1
1.0 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Specific objectives.........................................................................................................................................2

CHAPTER TWO........................................................................................................................................................3
2.0 Background Information of SARI...................................................................................................................3

2.1 SARI’s mandate.........................................................................................................................................3

2.1.1 SARI's mission:.......................................................................................................................................3
2.1.2 Vision of SARI.........................................................................................................................................3
2.1.3 SARI's purpose.......................................................................................................................................3
CHAPTER THREE......................................................................................................................................................4
3.0 SCHEME OF INTERNSHIP...................................................................................................................................4
3.1 WEEK ONE.....................................................................................................................................................4

Figure 2: Working on Our Presentation Skills......................................................................................................6

3.2 WEEK TWO....................................................................................................................................................6

3.4 WEEK FOUR...................................................................................................................................................7

3.5 WEEK FIVE.....................................................................................................................................................8

CHAPTER FOUR.....................................................................................................................................................10
4.0 The Role SARI in The Combat Against COVID -19........................................................................................10

4.1 Theoretical Relation....................................................................................................................................10

4.2 EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS MISSION AND VISON OF THE ORGANIZATION...............................10

CHAPTER FIVE.......................................................................................................................................................11

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 5.1 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS.............................................................................................................................11

5.2 CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................................11

RECOMMENDATIONS...........................................................................................................................................12
APPENDICES..........................................................................................................................................................12
List of figures.....................................................................................................................................................12

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS...................................................................................................................................12

REFERENCE...........................................................................................................................................................13

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Savanna Agricultural Research Institute

(CSIR-SARI), which was formally known as the Nyankpala Agricultural Experiment Station

(NAES) is one of the 13 research institutes under the Council for Scientific and Industrial

Research (CSIR). It was formally operating as an outpost of the Crops Research Institute in

Kumasi. In June 1994, it gained autonomy and became a Research Institute on its own, which is

Savanna Agricultural Research Institute. SARI is a developed agricultural research institute

located at Nyankpala in the Tolon district 16 kilometers west of Tamale in the Northern Region

of Ghana. There are seventeen-member Internal Management Committee (IMC) within Savanna

Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) and also seven divisions namely; Northern Region

Farming System Research Group, Upper East Farming System Research Group and Upper West

Farming System Research Group, (FSRG-NR), (FSRG-UE) And (FSRG-UW) Respectively,

Scientific Support Group (SSG), Commercialization Division (CD), Finance and the

Administration.

SARI as a research institute has a vision of becoming a lead research and development

institution by making agricultural research responsive to farmers needs and national

development.

CSIR-SARI has a mission of conducting agricultural research in northern Ghana with the aim of

developing and introducing improved technologies that will enhance productivity and

livelihoods.

SARI’s mandate is to provide peasant farmers in the five (5) northern regions of Ghana with

appropriate technologies to increase their food and fiber crop production based on a sustainable

production system which maintains or increases soil fertility. It is part of their mandate to also

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develop appropriate cropping systems and to provide seed varieties such as sorghum, millet,

rice, maize, fonio, cowpea, groundnuts, soybean, Bambara groundnuts, pigeon pea, yam,

cassava, sweet and frafra potatoes, cotton and vegetables.

SARI is under the council for scientific and industrial research (CSIR) which is the research

wing of the country and it falls under the ministry of environment, science, technology and

innovation. The government of Ghana handles the salaries of the workers with single spine

salary structure, but with research, most of them are donor funded, hence bids and proposals are

written to get the funds. Some of the donors are USAID and Alliance for green revolution

Africa (AGRA).These international organizations work with SARI on projects and also support

them with financial aids. We also got to know that the flow of information both within and

outside the institution is low.

We suggest that SARI invests in the communication sector by providing them with

communication tools that will allow for a strong flow of information both inside and outside the

institute. By doing so, the communication unit will be able to communicate the institute to the

public in a professional and correct manner, attracting the attention of investors who will assist

the institution in its mission to supply farmers in the country with adequate crop production

technologies.

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i
 CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION
University for development studies runs a trimester-based system, these are the first, second and

third trimesters. The first and second trimester are only academic work based and the third

trimester is a blend of both field work and office working experience. The university derives its

justification of this academic system from PNDC Law 279; section 3, which mandate the

university to blend the academic work with that of the practical work. In addition, the third

trimester field practical program (TTFPP) is a theoretical program that serves as part of the

university’s Bachelor of Science degree program in development studies. The program, which is

a theoretical year field program, aims to combine academic work with that of institutions in

order to create a productive relationship between the two. It allows students to value and

comprehend more of what they have learned in various courses, and students are required to

relate to what they have learned in school. The industrial attachment is usually for a maximum

of seven weeks and during this period, students are expected to get additional practical

experience to enhance their university program of study. Students are exposed to actual world

of work and its challenges which prepares them for their future careers. This is a report on the

Council

For Scientific and Industrial Research, Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI)

third trimester field practical training.

1.1 General objectives of the third trimester field practical program

 Expose students practically to the nature of the development problems of deprived

communities.

 Generate data for further research into problems solving and development issues.

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  Provide useful services to Ghanaian communities through exchange of knowledge and

its applications to address the felt needs and aspiration of these communities.

 To help students develop favorable attitude towards living and working in rural

communities.

1.2 Specific objectives

I. To help students build a good working relationship with both their superiors and

colleagues, and also be able to relate with different people from different backgrounds.

ii. To equip students with knowledge, skills and technique on how to write a good project

work.

iii. To help students find researchable topics for final year project.

iv. To help students blend traditional knowledge with scientific knowledge in problem-

solving for sustainable development.

v. to help students gain working experience by offering attachment with related institutions.

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 CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Background Information of SARI
The Savanna Agriculture Research Institute (SARI) is one of the thirteen research

institutions that make up the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), a

governmental organization that reports to the Ministry of Environment, Science, and

Technology (MEST). SARI is 16 kilometers west of Tamale of Northern Region of

Ghana, in the Tolon District.

2.1 SARI’s mandate is to provide peasant farmers in the five (5) northern regions of

Ghana with appropriate technologies to increase their food and fiber crop production

based on a sustainable production system which maintains or increases soil fertility. It

is part of their mandate to also develop appropriate cropping systems and to provide

seed varieties such as sorghum, millet, rice,

2.1.1 SARI's mission: is to Conduct agricultural research in northern Ghana with the

aim of developing and introducing improved technologies that will enhance over all

farm level productivity for improved livelihoods.

2.1.2 Vision of SARI is to become a leading research and development (R&D)

institution by adapting agricultural research to meet the demands of farmers and

national development.

2.1.3 SARI's purpose is to perform agricultural research in Northern Ghana in order

to develop and introduce new technologies that will increase overall farm productivity

and improve livelihoods.

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 CHAPTER THREE
3.0 SCHEME OF INTERNSHIP

We began our internship on the 30th August 2021, we arrived at SARI at exactly

7;50am on that particular Monday, one of us already did her attachment at SARI two

years ago so she took us to the communication department where we waited for our

boss. He arrived at the office at around 9:30am and we went with him to his office.

He made us introduce ourselves and he also introduced himself as Mr. Wilhelm Nomu

Kutah, the communication officer of SARI. Mr. Kutah asked us how long we will be

staying and he also told us how serious our stay will be and the kind of work we will

be doing. He told us his rules and regulations and also took us through the mission,

vision of the institute. The communications unit where we worked at initially did not

exist at SARI, the UNITED STATES AGENCY INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT (USAID) came in and took it as one of their projects and built up

the communication unit. We did new things every week and some of these weekly

activities are as follows.

3.1 WEEK ONE

The very first day of week one, our boss asked each and every one of us to write

everything about ourselves, any short story we can think of and why we chose to offer

social change communication as a course and also why we decided to do attachment

at SARI, after writing what he asked us to write he made us do a presentation on what

we wrote. Also within the first week, we visited the SARI experimental field, and we

all wrote a report on what we observed and presented our reports.

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Figure 1: A Visit to SARI’s Experimental Field

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Figure 2: Working on Our Presentation Skills

3.2 WEEK TWO

On the second week, we went for a seminar, a man called Dr. Abdul Latif Abdul

Aziz, spoke on the use and effectiveness of BIOCHAR. He did his study on

BIOCHAR at Turkey as part of his PHD and he is doing research on it at the

experimental field. We also visited the SARI experimental field in the second week,

where Madam Francisca Addai Frimpongmaa took us through her research on

soybean improvement program, she had two trials on the field, and these were the

advanced and preliminary trials.

3.3 WEEK THREE

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On the third week, a gentleman called Kobby Turkson came and took us through
photography, he taught us both theory and practical, with the theory he taught us the
types of camera settings which are ISO, APERTURE and SHUTTER SPEED. ISO is
a sensor in the camera that detects light and it is located at the right side of the
camera. Aperture is basically about how the pupil of the eye opens and closes for a
specific view, there is something called curtain in the camera which helps in opening
and closing when taking pictures. SHUTTER SPEED is the capturing speed, it is what
is seen on the far left of the camera and it is in fractions, for example 1/40, 1/50 and
1/20, the shutter speed can be very fast or very slow. He also taught us that the LENS
is like the eye of the camera, the camera is irrelevant without the lens. With the
practical, he made each and every one of us take pictures with the camera. And we
also practicalize the use of the camera.

3.4 WEEK FOUR.

On the fourth week, we were taught graphic design by a gentleman called Joey Sarfo.

He took us through basically everything theoretical about graphic design. He said

graphic design is an art, ability to choose, create and organize. He taught us types of

graphic design, elements of graphic design and tools and software that are used for

graphic design. We also attended a handing over ceremony within the fourth week,

Dr. Samuel Saaka, who was the past acting director handed over to the current acting

director Dr. Francis Kusi. Mr. Kutah taught us videography where he taught us how to

use an application called Filmora to put pieces of videos together to make a complete

meaningful video. He also taught us how to write a newsletter and how to use

publisher on the fourth week.

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 3.5 WEEK FIVE
This particular week was our last. A gentleman by name Philip Bayor took us through

how to create a blog and how to share blog contents. He first stated that you need to

choose the channel through which you will be blogging on, for example, Facebook,

YouTube, Instagram etc. The next step is choosing your blog name and if you want to

own the blog completely, you will have to buy the name. He also said you can get

your audience through adverts; you should provide good content and also know your

target audience. Philip Bayor mentioned that it is very important to create blog

contents and could expose you to so many opportunities especially the

communication sector.

Figure 3: A Presentation on Blogging

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 CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 The Role SARI in The Combat Against COVID -19

The role in which SARI can play in the fight against COVID -19 in its working space are

 Mandatory hand washing and wearing of nose mask for both workers and visitors
 Distributing of nose mask, veronica buckets and hand sanitizer
 Sensitization of farmers on the prevention of COVID- 19

4.1 Theoretical Relation

Diffusion of Innovation Theory. Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) Theory, developed by E.M.

Rogers in 1962, is one of the oldest social science theories. It originated in communication to

explain how, over time, an idea or product gains momentum and diffuses (or spreads) through

a specific population or social system.

CSIR-SARI uses various medium to reach its target audience. Newsletters, brochures, social

media, interpersonal (presentations, field demonstrations), etc. are channels the institute use

to diffuse its innovations among the agricultural societies. In our study and stay in CSIR-

SARI, students were taken through the various channels of innovation diffusion.

4.2 EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS MISSION AND VISON OF THE

ORGANIZATION.
As employees of the organization, we are to avail ourselves to be use for the achievement of

the vision and mission of the organization by educating farmers to adopt the new ways of

farming and also attending seminars, field visit to come out with communication materials to

promote SARI’s vision.

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 CHAPTER FIVE.
5.1 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
During our time at the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, we learned that the

institute is overseen by the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, and

that it collaborates with and receives funding from foreign organizations such as

USAID and AGRA. These foreign organizations collaborate with SARI on initiatives

and provide financial

Assistance. We also learned that there is a lack of information flow both within and

outside the organization.

5.2 CONCLUSION.

The field practical program in the third trimester of the third year is a lot of fun, full of

adventures, and most importantly, educational. It provides students with the opportunity to

put what they've learned in class into practice. It also exposes students to work ethics, allows

them to connect with and meet new people, and allows them to identify their strengths and

limitations while working to improve them.

CSIR-SARI is doing an excellent job of researching and developing seed types that fulfill the

needs of farmers and the general public. SARI helps to the country's development in one way

or another by having a favorable impact on the agriculture sector.

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 RECOMMENDATIONS.
We suggest that SARI invest in the communication sector by providing them with
communication tools that will allow for a strong flow of information both inside and
outside the institute. By doing so, the communication sector will be able to
communicate the institute to the public in a professional and accurate manner,
attracting the attention of investors who will support the institution and its mission to
pride farmers in the country with appropriate crop production innovations.

APPENDICES

List of figures
Figure 1: A Presentation on Blogging

Figure 2: Working on Our Presentation Skills

Figure 3: A Presentation on Blogging

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

 AGRA……...............Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa

 CD……………………. Commercialization Division
 CSIR…………………. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

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 CU………………. ……...Communication Unit
 FSRG…………………...Farming System Research Group
 IMC…………………………... International Management Committee
 NAES……………………Nyankpala Agricultural Experiment Station
 SARI………………………...Savanna Agriculture Research Institute

REFERENCE

1. E.M. Rogers, 1962. Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) Theory.

2. Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology Annual Report 2020.

3. Savanna Agriculture Research Institute Annual Report 2020.

4. Savanna Agriculture Research Institute Web Site.

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