CSIR-CRI introduces new tomato varieties to farmers

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Crop Research Institute (CRI) have come-up with two new varieties of tomatoes.

This comes under a project named ‘Technologies for Africa Agriculture Transformation phase 2 (TAAT 2)’.

The new varieties of vegetables known as cri-Kwabena-Kwabena and cri- KOPIA tomatoes, were specifically identified by researchers to meet the climate change not only in Ghana, but Africa and the world at large.

A Snr. Research Scientist and Head of Horticulture Division at Crop Research Institute, Dr. Michael Kwabena Osei said these new varieties mature early, have high yield and are able to withstand drought.

Interacting with journalists during a tour of experimental farms at Kpetoe, Akatsi and Adaklu in the Agotime-Ziope, Akatsi and Adaklu districts of the Volta Region, Dr. Osei said the project which is funded by the African Development Bank (AFDB) is being piloted in four regions, Upper East, Volta, Bono and Eastern.

The Senior Research Scientist noted that the importance of TAAT 2 project that has attracted sponsorship from AFDB through the World Vegetable Center, an agriculture-oriented organization is to ensure successful implementation of the project which aims at combating threats posed by climatic changes in vegetable production.

Dr. Osei disclosed that domestic demand for fresh tomatoes in Ghana stands at 1.2 million metric tons per anum, but farmers in the country only produce 30 percent of such demand which is woefully inadequate, a development which led to the importation of canned tomatoes with its associated health challenges.

He said the country needs to focus on irrigation farming and invest heavily to ensure that vegetables such as okra and tomatoes are produced all year round to meet the consumption level of Ghanaians.

Paul Alhassan Zaato, who is a Research Associate of the World Vegetables Center, said his outfit’s commitment to ensuring that vegetable production becomes part of Ghanaian farmers.

He stressed that World Vegetables Center is poised to promote vegetable production in Ghana through Crop Research Institute since it has the capacity to investigate and come-up with varieties that stand the test of time.

A tomato farmer at Agotime-Kpetoe, Bright Torgnui disclosed that he has been in vegetable farming for the past 15 years, but never came across these new varieties of tomatoes which do well under any kind of weather conditions.

According to him, the new varieties have come at the right time and therefore appealed to the research institute to make available to farmers, seedlings of the new varieties of tomatoes to enhance their production level.

The over 150 vegetable farmers during the tour were taken through modern methods of vegetable cultivation and effective use of pesticide and fertilizer.