The Crop Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CRI-CSIR) has rolled out a demand-led breeding project to introduce a new pepper variety into the market, the first since 2005.
The institute has mobilized key stakeholders to be part of the selection process of the variety to avoid low patronage by farmers, as happened in 2005 when the Shito Adope and Maakontose varieties were released.
The rationale, according to the institute, is to work with farmers throughout the process, have their buy-ins, in settling on what they actually want.
Senior Research Scientist and vegetable Breeder at CRI, Dr. Michael Kwabena Osei, said that the new approach ahead of the release was to meet local and international demands. According to Osei, CSIR-CRI was currently making a participatory selection of about 28 different lines of pepper that were obtained from the World Vegetable Center. The World Vegetable Centre promotes healthier lives and more resilient livelihoods through greater food diversity.
Source: businessghana.com