The Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute (PGRRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is attempting to upscale the cultivation and usage of indigenous leafy vegetables in Ghana. The institute, under the Seed for Resilient Project (SfRP) has selected Amaranthus spp. (alefu), Corchorus spp. (ademe/ayoyo) and Roselle spp. (sule) varieties for trial and multiplication to enable more farmers to cultivate.
Dr Lawrence Misa Aboagye, CSRI-PGRRI, Chief Research Scientists stated during an inspection of farmers’ field trials that, these vegetables were highly nutritious in protein and minerals such as calcium, phosphorous and manganese. The varieties had also been already adapted to the environment and acquired certain characteristics which made them able to withstand drought.
Dr Aboagye explained that the Seed for Resilient, was a three-year project which started in 2019 with support from the Global Crop Diversity Trust in Germany. The aim is to strengthen the link between the Ghana national gene bank, scientists, and farmers to conserve and share their seed collections to improve food security.
Source: newsghana.com.gh