New vegetable lab launched in Ghana
According to the WACCI, food security initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa have largely focused on producing more staple food crops, neglecting nutrient-rich vegetables. It adds that local production of vegetable has challenges such as lack of improved varieties, and competition from imported vegetables.
The Vegetables Innovation Laboratory (VIL), which is located at the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) based at the University of Ghana, will undertake research in genetic improvement; vegetable production, quality and processing and policy research. Its focus will also be on value chains, socio-economic research and knowledge management systems.
Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, director of WACCI, says the laboratory will develop framework for accelerating the development of the tomato and vegetable industry in Ghana and West African sub-region. The laboratory is open to all social scientists, natural and physical scientists interested in taking tomato research to a higher level for innovation in the industry.
“A consortium which includes representatives from the Ghana’s Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the University of Ghana, the national breeding programme at Crops Research Institute and the private sector has been formed,” says Danquah. "Through strategic partnerships and strong collaborations, proposals which facilitate cutting-edge research for the development of new tomatoes for the fresh markets and processing industry will be developed to boost the tomato industry.”
Danquah explains that the laboratory will provide farmers with technologies to increase yields.
Source: www.scidev.net