Profile

Prof. Joseph Kinansua Laary has his PhD and MPhil. degrees in Crop Science and BSc. degree in general Agriculture from University of Ghana, Legon.  He is a Senior Lecturer in the Bolgatanga Technical University. Before working as a Lecturer, he was an Assistant Research Scientist under the Convergence of Sciences (COS) Project of the Wageningen University and University of Ghana, which operated under MOFA/SARI in Upper East and Northern Regions of Ghana from 2002 to 2006. He under the project conducted participatory research activities with the rural farmers in northern Ghana towards improving crop productivity and household food security. He has also played supervised roles in farmer participatory varietal selection of rice under the UNDP/SARI Rice Impact Survey in Upper East Region from 2006-2007. He has in addition coordinated activities towards empowering farmer groups and organizations to access small credit and loans for improved crop and animal productivity and incomes in northern Ghana. 

He has also organized training programmes on participatory rural research as well as integrating farmers’ indigenous and scientific knowledge for livelihood change in Upper East and Northern Regions of Ghana. He has served as resource person and facilitator in developing tailor-made training modules on climate resilient vegetable production practices for farmers and other stakeholders in vegetable production enterprises. He has won and coordinated projects aimed at empowering rural farmers through improved farming skills training and practices, for enhanced productivity and household incomes in Upper East Region of Ghana. He has also played advocacy roles and facilitated training programmes to improve dry season farming practices and farmer knowledge, usage and safeguarding dangers associated with
agro-chemicals.

He has been a Consultant under the Dansyn Innovation Social Organisation (Dansyn ISO), Upper East Region, to survey and identify the potential environmental and social impacts associated with the implemented Orange Fresh Sweet Potato (OFSP) and Poultry Production subprojects; in Sekyere East in Ashanti, Kassena-Nankana in Upper East, and Kintampo South in the Bono East Region; World Vision Ghana grant project “Improved Feeding Practices for the First 1000 Days project”. A consultant under the Dansyn Innovation Social Organisation (Dansyn ISO), Upper East Region, as a resource person and facilitator for the trainer of trainers (ToT) for Implementation of Environmental and Social Management Frameworks to Safeguard the Environment in project beneficiary districts of Kassena-Nankana in the Upper East Region, Sekyere East in the Ashanti Region, and Kintampo South in the Bono East Region. World Vision Ghana grant project “Improved Feeding Practices for the First 1000 Days project”. A consultant, for feasibility studies on vertiver grass cultivation and nursery establishments for improved basketry in Upper East Region, for Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Ghana. He has also been a member of the Research, Extension Farmer Linkage Committee (RELC) for the Upper East Region; whose role is to promote research, extension and farmer linkage activities in the region; and ensure a greater collaboration amongst key players in the agricultural continuum, to increase and sustain food security and nutrition at the farmer household level. 

Joseph K. Laary has good research background with publications in peer reviewed journals. He is an Associate Professor in Crop Science in the Ecological Agriculture Department of Bolgatanga Technical University; and has held positions in the University as Head of Ecological Agriculture Department, Dean of School of Applied Sciences and Arts, Vice Rector and currently as Dean of Students. He has also served as a Chair and Member of several boards and committees, within and outside the University. 

Skills and Competencies

Prof. Laary is an inspired, devoted and goal-oriented person, and capable of exercising independent    judgement. He is a self-determined researcher, capable of using basic equipment and skills in
coordinating, supervising and conducting scientific research. He is well oriented and takes his
responsibilities with the required seriousness. He is a team player, understands complex situations and
can work with diverse group of people. He values everyone’s contribution, and capable of bringing stakeholders within his remit on board for major decision making. He is emotionally stable,
ready to learn new and innovative things, open to corrections and can adapt to varying situations and necessities. 

Career objective

To become a celebrated researcher and teacher in his area of expertise and to make positive contribution for the future generation. 

Areas of expertise 

Research focuses on drought and soil moisture deficits on crop physiological responses and productivity. 

Improving farmer resilient agronomic practices under the changing climatic conditions in savanna
agro-ecologies of Ghana

Integrating indigenous and scientific knowledge for improved agro-ecological farming practices, for sustainable food security in northern Ghana.

Integrating crops and animals for improved crop productivity, animal nutrition and food security.