Mrs. Esther Marfo-Ahenkora
Senior Research Scientist

Office: ARI Room 21 Email:

Degrees: B. Sc., M. Phil. (UG, Ghana)

ACHIEVEMENTS

Awards and Recognitions
  • 2009 – Norman Borlaug Fellow
  • 2010 – Certificate, Women Leadership and management training course - Training Resources Group (TRG of USA)
  • 2016 - Certificate, International Centre for Development Oriented Research in Agriculture (ICRA). Linking research to inclusive development for food security - Wageningen, The Netherlands


    • Active Affiliations
  • Ghana Science Association
  • Ghana Society of Animal Production
  • Ghana Animal Science Association

    • RESEARCH

    Research Interest
  • Screening of forages with the view of selecting drought tolerant species for sustainable livestock production.
  • Assessing nutritional composition of forages for efficient utilization by ruminants.
  • Crop-livestock farming systems research.
  • Sustainable crop/pasture production strategies.
  • Forage conservation strategies for sustainable feeding of ruminants.
  • Livestock manure management and utilization.
  • Introduction of fodder banks/feed gardens to smallholder ruminant farmers in some rural communities in Ghana.
  • Animal feeding trials with various forages.
  • Effect of climate change on animal production in general and forage resource availability in particular.
  • Tree crops research.


    • Current Research
    1. There is a close relationship between crop and livestock production in Ghana with most farmers keeping livestock besides arable farming. For producers in mixed crop/livestock farming systems, significant opportunities exist in most tropical agro-ecological zones to increase ruminant livestock feed supplies by using crop residues. Crop residues are seasonally produced and become available only after harvest and so, if not used immediately, it has to be conserved properly for future use. My research, therefore, focuses on crop management practices, post-harvest handling of crop residues, efficient ways of mobilising as well as storing of the residues after harvest to ensure high quality and efficient utilization of residues.

    2. In many smallholder farms in Ghana, declining soil fertility resulting in low crop production is a major factor affecting food security. Soils in the sub-humid zone of Ghana are inherently low in plant nutrients. Inorganic fertilizers are expensive and out of the means of many smallholder farmers. The need to improve soils for increased production with less expensive and sustainable means such as use of animal manure is therefore, paramount. The research drive thus, focuses on use of different soil amendments for crop and pasture production. Most legumes have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen which helps maintain soil fertility. Integrating legumes with crops improve soil structure, fertility and enhances crop production as well as providing high quality feed for livestock. Further, my research attention centres a lot more focuses on integrating forage legumes into the cropping systems of smallholder farmers.

    3. Some leguminous plants and multi-purpose trees can be used as feed supplements to optimize rumen function and reduce methane production so the research is to identify which leguminous plants and trees are more efficient in this regard to reduce the effect of greenhouse gases on the environment.

    4. The main limiting factor for ruminant production in the tropics is the lack of good quality feed throughout the year. Seasonal feeding constraints are mostly attributed to the long dry spells characteristic of the West African sub- region. Livestock dietary constraints are also caused by low feed quality during the dry season. Sheep and goats could lose up to 15% of their weight if not given supplementary feeding during the dry season. It is therefore, expedient to screen forage species for their nutritional value as well as selecting drought tolerant species, which will provide fodder reserve, in times of drought to reduce the seasonal live weight losses as well as mortality of ruminant livestock in Ghana The focuse of my research has been the screening of forages with the view of selecting drought tolerant species for sustainable livestock production and also assessing nutritional composition of forages for efficient utilization by ruminants.


    Current Projects
  • Growth and yield of maize under different soil amendments.
  • Establishment of forages for their agronomic potential, nutritive and feeding values.
  • Livestock manure management and utilization.
  • Animal feeding trials with various forages.

    • PUBLICATIONS

    Book Chapter
    1. Aboe, P. A. T., Okantah, S. A., Ameleke, G. Y., Sottie, E. T. and Marfo-Ahenkora, E. 2006. Crop-livestock integration in smallholder cattle herds in the Accra plains of Ghana: Cropping system (70-79pp.). In: Zoundi J.S., Butaré I., Ndikumana J.N. et Adomefa K. (ed). 2006. Integration agriculture-elevage alternative pour une gestion durable des ressources naturelles et line amelioration de l'économie familiale en Afrique de l ouest et du Centre. Ouagadougou INERA, Nairobi ILRI, Dakar: CORAF/WECARD. 374 p.
    2. Okantah, S. A., Sottie, E. T., Marfo-Ahenkora, E., Ameleke, G. Y. and Aboe, P. A. T. 2006. A simplified method of making silage through participatory methods in small holder cattle herds on the Accra Plains in Ghana (250-256pp.). In: Zoundi J.S., Butaré I., Ndikumana J.N. et Adomefa K. (ed). 2006. Integration agriculture-elevage alternative pour une gestion durable des ressources naturelles et line amelioration de l'économie familiale en Afrique de lOuest et du Centre. Ouagadougou INERA, Nairobi ILRI, Dakar: CORAF/WECARD. 374 p.

    Refereed Journal Papers
    1. Marfo-Ahenkora E. and Nuertey B.N. (1999). The role of leguminous cover crops in the sustainable production of the oil palm (Elaesis guinensis).- A review. Journal of the Ghana Science Association; 1 (2): 148-155.

    2. Marfo-Ahenkora E., Kumaga, F.K. and Ofori, K. (2001). Assessment of the potential of three leguminous cover crops for soil nitrogen improvement and weed control for young oil palm plantations. Journal of the Ghana Science Association; 3 (2): 15-23.

    3. Amoah, F.M., Nuertey, B.N., Osei-Bonsu,K., Marfo-Ahenkora, E. and T.E.O Asamoah (2002). The effect of spacing and shade on coffee growth and yield on hill tops in an oil palm plantation. Journal of the Ghana Science Association; 4 (2): 73-79

    4. Kumaga, F. K., Ofori, K. and Marfo-Ahenkora, E., (2006) Nodulation, Dry Matter and Nitrogen accumulation of Mucuna (Mucuna pruriens var utilis) in response to Bradyrhizobia Inoculation. Int. J of Agri. & Biol; 8 (1): 138-141.

    5. Nuertey, B. N., Amoah, F. M.., Opoku, ??, Asamoah, T. E. O., Oppong, F. K., Osei-Bonsu, K.,and Marfo-Ahenkora, E. (2006). Income Intensification Strategy: Determination of the optimum time to Under-plant Oil Palm with Cocoa. Journal of the Ghana Science Association; 8 (2): 26-37

    6. Aboe, P. A. T., Okantah, S. A., Ameleke, G. Y., Sottie, E. T. and Marfo-Ahenkora, E. (2007). Some characteristics of smallholder cattle herds in two districts in the Accra plains of Ghana 1: Socio-demographic characteristics and facilities. Ghanaian Journal of Animal Science. 2 & 3:129-136

    7. Aboe, P. A. T., Okantah, S. A., Ameleke, G. Y., Sottie, E. T. and Marfo-Ahenkora, E. (2007). Some characteristics of smallholder cattle herds in two districts in the Accra plains of Ghana 2: Milk production, processing and marketing. Ghanaian Journal of Animal Science; 2 & 3:137-144.

    8. Okantah, S. A., Sottie, E. T., Marfo-Ahenkora, E., Ameleke, G. Y., Aboe, P. A. T., Karikari, P. K. and Birikorang, G. K. (2007). A simplified method of making silage in smallholder cattle herds on the Accra Plains in Ghana. Ghanaian Journal of Animal Science; 2 & 3:183-187.

    9. Dwarko,D. A., Okyere-Boateng, G., Nuertey, B. N., Baidoo-Addo, K., Asamoah,T.E.O., Marfo-Ahenkora, E and Opoku, A.(2008). Effect of water stress on the yield performance of seven D x P oil palm progenies. Journal of the Ghana Science Association; 10(1): 26-35.

    10. Danso I. Nuertey B. N., Andoh –Mensah E., Osei-Bonsu, A., Asamoah T. E. O., Dwarko D. A., Okyere-Boateng, G., Marfo-Ahenkora, E. and Opoku, A. (2008). Response of oil palm to planting density and water deficit in three climatic zones of Southern Ghana. Jnl of Ghana Sci Ass; 10 (2) 93-102.

    11. Marfo-Ahenkora E., , G. E. and Flythe, M. D. (2014). Fermentation Characteristics and Nutritive Value of Low moisture Silage made from mature bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and switch (Panicum virgatum) in mixture with alfalfa (Medicago sativa ) or treated with urea and plantain (Musa AAB) Ghana Journal of Agric Science; 47, 15-29.

    12. Larbi E., Anim Okeyre S., Danso F. and E. Marfo-Ahenkora (2014) Sheep Reproductive Performance and Lamb Survivability under Mature Oil Palm. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology; 7(23):4927,

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