The Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) has released 12 new drought tolerant maize, cowpea and rice varieties. Out of the twelve new varieties were seven varieties of maize, four varieties of cowpeas and one variety of rice.
The 12 varieties which were endorsed by the National Variety Release and Registration Committee would enable farmers grow such crops in order to achieve moderate yields without relying on rain.
The varieties proposed for release fall under 4 major projects, namely Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa, Harvest Plus and WIENCO.
In an interview with Gardja, the head of Cereals, Dr. K. Obeng Antwi, noted that the country is saddled with huge maize and rice import bills due to the high local losses as a result of climate change.
Drought, according to him, is one of the most important constraints to maize production and productivity in the savannah ecologies of West and Central Africa (WCA). “Annual maize yield loss from drought stress in the savannas of WCA is estimated at 15%, although localized losses may be much higher,” he revealed.
He said the existing drought tolerant maize varieties are of intermediate maturity (110 days) stressing that with the intensification of the climate change, there is the need to develop early and extra early maturing varieties (80-85 days) which in addition to their tolerance may also be drought escapes.
Touching on nutritional values of the maize especially, Dr. Obeng Antwi said the high prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in Ghana has been partly attributed to low bio-available Vitamin A in the predominant cereal, root, and tuber crops based foods consumed by adults as well as infants.
He observed that vitamin A deficiencies are serious forms of malnutrition that retard growth, weaken the immune system and may also cause blindness.
He said since maize is a major staple in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa, a feasible approach to minimize VAD is to develop and promote the production and utilization of maize varieties that have high levels of bio-available vitamin A.
The Research Scientist observed that there is also growing demand for varieties suitable for industrial purpose such as gritting, brewery and poultry.
These, the proposed varieties, according to him, are made up of different types of hybrids that are adapted to the major agro-ecologies especially in these times of climate change challenges.
These he said included single cross, three-way cross and top cross hybrids (white and yellow) with varying maturity dates suited for all the major agro ecological zones. In addition, varieties rich in pro-vitamin A have also been included.
Economic analysis has indicated high net benefits for the proposed varieties and when adopted, will increase farmer income and reduce poverty in small holder farmers, thus addressing the millennium development goal (MDG) 1 of poverty eradication.
Some of the varieties have the potential to solve malnutrition problems and this will address the MDG goals 4 and 5 of reduction in child mortality and improvement in maternal health.
Among the proposed names for the new maize varieties endorsed and released were Crops Afriyie, Crops Obotantim, Crops Nkunim, Crops Difoo, Crops Aho)dzen, Crops Aho)fe and Crops Nkunim.
A rice breeder who doubles as a research scientist, Mr. G. Acheampong said that Ghana pumps spends about GH₵500 million annually to import rice.
Story by ERNEST KWAW ESSUMAN
