Crop Trust’s Seed for Resilience Initiative Reaches Milestone with Final Meeting
On July 8, 2025, the Crop Trust’s Seed for Resilience (SFR) initiative marked a significant milestone with its final meeting, culminating a successful three-year journey. The event brought together key stakeholders, including CSIR- Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), CSIR-Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute (PGRRI), Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), and Indigenous Leafy Vegetable User groups.
Key Highlights
Dr. Patricia Pinamang Acheampong, a Principal Research Scientist and the initiative’s focal person at CSIR-Crops Research Institute, expressed gratitude to participants and provided an overview of the initiative’s journey. She highlighted the purpose of the gathering: distributing selected seeds from CSIR-PGRRI’s gene bank, successfully multiplied by CSIR-CRI, to farmers for planting. Dr. Acheampong encouraged farmers to share harvested seeds with their neighbors, promoting the initiative’s spread across Ghana.
Farmer Engagement
Farmers engaged with CSIR-CRI and other participating organizations, seeking clarification on optimal planting locations, Agro-ecological zones, soil types, and best practices for crop management. Representatives from CSIR-CRI, CSIR-PGRRI, and other organizations provided guidance and support.
MOFA Representative’s Remarks
The MOFA representative encouraged farmers to plant the distributed seeds, promising regular monitoring and technical assistance. She emphasized promoting the nutritional benefits of lesser-known crops to increase adoption and marketability.
Conclusion
The event concluded with a summary of key discussions, group pictures, and seed distribution to farmers. This milestone marks a crucial step towards enhancing linkages between germplasm conservation and utilization, empowering farmers for successful cultivation.
Contributors: Lynda G. S. Nsafoah, Clara Boateng, Kingsford Anane-Peprah, Enoch Bobie Agyemang
