The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Dr. Kwaku Afriyie has commended the CSIR for carrying out scientific and technological research for national development.

The Minister said this when he visited the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research CSIR, in the Ashanti Region.

The CSIR is an agency under the Ministry for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation so the sector Minister was at the ouncil to familiarize himself with their work.

Formally called the National Research Council the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, is the foremost national science and technology Institution in Ghana.

It was established in 1953. The CSIR has thirteen research institutes and over 60 field stations across the country.

He visited the CSIR’S four institutes which comprises of the Crops Research Institute, the Forestry Research Institute, Soil Research Institute and the Building and Road Research Institute.

The Director-General of CSIR, Professor Victor Agyeman said to be able to carry out its mandate effectively the CSIR needs adequate funding to meet up with new technological advancements in the area of research.

Dr. Kwaku Afriyie tasked the Institutes under the CSIR to come out with research work that will respond to the needs of society.

At the Building and Road Research Institute, Dr. Afriyie urged the public particularly real estate developers to patronize the Pozzolana cement produced by the Institute which cost less.

He assured the BRRI of the government’s support towards its works.

At the Crops Research Institute, its Director, Professor Moses Mochiah mentioned some challenges facing the institute especially in the area of developing agricultural innovations.

The Director of the Forestry Research Institute, Professor Daniel Ofori told the Minister that a National Tree Seed Centre has been established at the Institute to produce and supply high quality seeds and seedlings for all indigenous and exotic tree species.

He said the seeds and seedlings are available for sale. At the Soil Research Institute Dr. Afriyie was taken through a technology that has been developed by the institute to address soil degradation.