Dr. Mrs. Esther Marfo-Ahenkora

Crop/Pasture Agronomist

Senior Research Scientist

Email : esthahenkrora@yahoo.co.uk/esthahenkrora@gmail.com

Degrees : BSc. Hons Agriculture ; MPhil Crop Science (University of Ghana, Legon) Ph.D. Crop Science (University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana)

Research

Research Interests

Farming Systems research

Crop-Livestock integration

Sustainable crop/pasture production strategies

Forage production and feed packages development

Assessing biomass/nutritional composition of forages for efficient utilization by ruminants

Forage conservation strategies for sustainable feeding of ruminants

Livestock manure management and utilization

Introduction of fodder banks/feed gardens to smallholder ruminant farmers

Animal feeding trials with various forages

Effect of climate change on animal production in general and forage resource availability in particular

Rangeland studies and pasture development

Developmental Agriculture (Linking Research, Extension and Farmers)

Significant research already undertaken:

Screening for drought tolerant forage species for sustainable livestock production in Southern Ghana

Integration of leguminous forages into mixed farming systems to increase dairy production and improve soil fertility in smallholder dairy farms in the Coastal Savanna zone of Ghana

Forage conservation strategies (Hay and silage preparation) for improved productivity of ruminant livestock in smallholder farms in the Coastal Savanna zone of Ghana

Participatory approaches in strategic dry season feeding of ruminants in the Greater Accra Region

Evaluation of different forages for their agronomic and nutritional potential

Crop-livestock integration under various farming systems

Monitoring of seasonal variations in plant biomass, botanical and chemical composition of Rangeland herbage