Livestock and Poultry Research Centre (LIPREC) Commemorate its 65th Anniversary

The livestock and Poultry Research Centre (LIPREC) of the School of Agriculture has organized a durbar to commemorate its 65th Anniversary. The ceremony which was under the theme “Livestock Research –Key to Healthy Locally Produced Livestock & Wholesome Livestock Products”, was a collaboration between the Centre and the Leventis Foundation Programme. The ceremony also served as a graduation for the 2018 class of trainee farmers under the A.G. Leventis Programme and a farewell for retirees of LIPREC.

Dr. Eric Timpong-Jones, Head of Centre LIPREC, in his welcome address gave a brief history of the Centre and indicated that the Centre was on course in achieving its vision and mission. Dr. Eric Timpong-Jones used the occasion to officially announce the newest innovation of an improved dry feeding stock for livestock in the dry season to the public.  In spite of the numerous successes achievements of the Centre, he also stated that the Centre is saddled with challenges in the form of land encroachment, inadequate staff, bad roads, high utility bills and inadequate space for laboratories and asked for support. Dr. Timpong-Jones noted the Centre had trained over 1000 farmers since the inception of the training programme. He charged the 108 graduating farmers to make a difference in their respective communities.

Dr. Eric Timpong-Jones delivering a welcome address

Mrs. Comfort Emdem, Leventis Foundation country representative opined that graduates have become excellent role models in the community. She was optimistic that in the near future farmers will market themselves very well and add value to their products.

In delivering the keynote address, Mr. Kojo Boakye, Managing Director, Frankatson Limited, pointed out that modern day farming is a business which is lucrative, noble and highly rewarding. Perseverance, he said, is the only way that will bring success as farming comes with a lot of challenges. Mr. Kojo Boakye further indicated that the certificate of the farmers was not an academic certificate but a testimony of the good training they had received. He also charged the farmers to share their knowledge with other farmers and transform the society as they are strategically positioned in the country.

Officials pose with some of the debators

Speaking on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Prof. D.K. Asiedu lauded the Centre for their achievements in their numerous innovations especially in the areas of animal nutrition. He commended the activities of the past heads and workers for their selfless dedication to the Centre.

 The Chairman for the Durbar and Dean of School of Agriculture, Prof. Daniel Bruce Sarpong in his remarks charged the trainees to see farming as a business that will brings about high returns.  

Prof. Daniel Bruce Sarpong delivering remarks at the ceremony.

The Dean of the School of Biological Sciences, Prof. Matilda Steiner-Asiedu attended the ceremony.  Also present at the ceremony were faculty and staff of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, and faculty and staff of the Centre.  The Leventis programme is a training programme for prospective and practicing small-scale farmers in livestock and poultry, cereal and irrigation and forest and horticultural crops. The programme is a collaboration between University of Ghana and the A.G Leventis foundation and spearheaded by the Livestock and Poultry Research Centre (LIPREC), Soil and Irrigation Research Centre, (SIREC) and Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre (FOHCREC).

Prior to the grand durbar, a debate was held.

Some of the trainee farmers at the ceremony