By Juliet ETEFE ([email protected])
Experts have called for strategic investments in roots, tubers, and bananas (RTBs) to enhance food security, promote import substitution, and drive export growth.
The consensus was reiterated at a stakeholder engagement organised by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the International Potato Center held in Accra.
Centered on the theme, “Leveraging Science, Technology and Innovation to enhance food security, promote import substitution and drive export promotion” it saw sector players deliberate on strategies to enhance food systems and promote agricultural transformation.
Minister for Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, in a speech highlighted the pivotal role RTBs in continent’s agricultural and food security landscape saying it is time for Ghana to rethink investment in that area.
“The time has come for us to rethink how we breed and scale up these crops,” Dr. Muhammed remarked, pointing out that despite their importance, RTBs face numerous challenges such as low-yielding varieties, pests, diseases, and weak market linkages.
He highlighted the substantial contribution of RTBs, like cassava and yams, to the country’s agricultural GDP, noting that they represent 30% of the sector’s economic output. However, their potential remains underutilised, and the sector’s development requires scientific advancement and strategic investments.
The Minister also highlighted that RTBs, often undervalued in global agricultural discussions, offer vital nutrients and economic empowerment, especially for rural women.
“In West and Central Africa, crops like cassava, yams, and plantains are not just food staples, but are also sources of livelihood, particularly in rural communities,” he added in the speech read on his behalf by the Chief Director of MEST Suweibatu Adam.
By modernising breeding programmes, using genomic tools, and strengthening policy support, he urged a shift towards an integrated approach that would ensure long-term sustainability and economic growth.
Prof. Marian D. Quain, lead researcher at CSIR also highlighted the economic opportunities within the RTB sector, particularly through value addition and export promotion.
She pointed to banana production as a prime example of untapped potential, with innovations such as using banana stems for fiber presenting additional income opportunities for farmers.
On export opportunities, she noted that while many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana still view export as a domain for large corporations, there is a concerted effort to shift this perception.
“We are working to establish dedicated Made-in-Ghana retail outlets like the Ghana Mall in Labone to support SMEs in accessing both local and international markets,” Prof. Quain stated.
The roundtable also saw contributions from other participants, who echoed the importance of public-private partnerships in driving the growth of RTBs.
Many stressed the need for policy changes that support value addition, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve market linkages.
The emphasis was also placed on ensuring that the transformation of the agricultural sector is not just based on increasing yields but also on creating sustainable, profitable industries around RTBs.
They affirmed that investing in RTBs is not just a necessity for improving food security and nutrition but also for boosting economic resilience and positioning Africa as a competitive player in global agricultural markets.
As such, called for a collective effort involving government, researchers, the private sector, and international partners to spearhead the transformation of the RTB sector, unlocking its full potential to feed the continent and support its economic development.
Dr. Simon Heck, Director General of the International Potato Center, shared insights into the work the center has been doing in Ghana for over 30 years emphasising the importance of developing biofortified varieties, such as vitamin A-enriched sweet potatoes, that address child nutrition gaps.
Dr. Heck noted that the success of these varieties had been significant, especially in the northern regions of Ghana, where the programme had already made strides in propagating these crops.
He reiterated collaboration with local institutions and the private sector to scale these innovations across the country.
“It is not enough to just conduct research; we need to ensure that farmers can access markets and receive fair compensation for their produce,” he remarked, underscoring the need for a market-driven approach that empowers farmers to plan and plant according to demand.
