CSIR-CRI Brings Improved Maize Varieties to 120 Farmers in Ejisu Municipality Through Seed Drop Initiative
The CSIR-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), with support from the IITA Breeding for Tomorrow Project, distributed seeds of two improved maize varieties, CRI Nkomo and CRI Apraku, to 120 smallholder farmers from the Ejisu Municipal area through a Seed Drop initiative. The activity aimed to increase farmers’ access to improved maize varieties and give them the opportunity to experience the performance of these varieties directly on their own farms.
The activity was coordinated by Dr. Priscilla Francisco Ribeiro, Ghana Project Coordinator for the Breeding for Tomorrow Project at CSIR-CRI and Maize Breeder at the Institute. Through the Seed Drop approach, farmers received small quantities of improved seed to plant and evaluate under their own production conditions, bringing improved breeding products directly into farmers’ fields.
During the distribution, farmers were introduced to CRI Nkomo and CRI Apraku and provided with information on appropriate agronomic practices. They were encouraged to observe important characteristics such as crop establishment, maturity, plant performance, grain yield and overall suitability to their local farming conditions.
According to Dr. Ribeiro, making improved seed available to farmers is an important step in moving varieties from research and release to actual adoption.
“Developing and releasing an improved variety is only the beginning. Farmers need access to the seed so they can grow it, observe its performance themselves and make informed decisions about adoption. Through the Seed Drop initiative, we are putting improved genetics directly into farmers’ hands.”
The initiative will also provide an opportunity to obtain direct feedback from farmers in the Ejisu Municipality on the performance and acceptability of the varieties. Such feedback is important for understanding farmer preferences, strengthening demand for improved varieties and improving the connection between breeding programmes and seed delivery.
With 120 farmers benefiting from the Seed Drop initiative, the activity represents an important step towards increasing awareness, access and demand for improved maize seed within the Ejisu Municipality. Through the Breeding for Tomorrow Project, CSIR-CRI continues to bridge the gap between breeding innovation and farmer adoption by ensuring that improved varieties such as CRI Nkomo and CRI Apraku move from research into farmers’ fields, where their impact can ultimately be realised.
