To mitigate the impact of prolonged dry spells on farmers in the Northern region, particularly on women farmers, climate-smart cowpea varieties have been introduced to improve food security.
This initiative aims to help farmers adapt to changing climate conditions.
This year, following a nearly two-month dry spell in the northern part of the country, many farmers saw their crops destroyed due to the lack of rainfall, raising concerns about a potential food shortage.
However, with the introduction of climate-smart cowpea varieties, farmers now have a more resilient crop to rely on. These improved cowpea varieties are expected to help mitigate the negative effects of low rainfall moving forward.
Through the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) grant, CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and Texas Tech University, climate-smart cowpea varieties are being introduced to women farmers in Northern Ghana.
Seeds of improved cowpea varieties such as SARI-tuya, Padi-tuya, Wangkae and Kirkhouse Benga were given to 400 farmers in Northern Ghana, where a farmer is cultivating an acre each of one of the varieties. The target districts for this project in Northern Ghana are East Mamprusi, Chereponi, Yendi and Gushegu where 100 farmers majority being women were sampled from these districts.
According to Dr Theophilus Kwabla Tengey, Research scientist/Cowpea breeder at the CSIR Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, SARI-tuya is a newly released cowpea variety which matures within 71 days after planting. This variety is drought tolerant and resistant to striga (a plant-parasitic weed which causes significant losses in yields of cowpea).
Aside from these characteristics, SARI-tuya is very appealing to consumers as it has a large seed size and a short cooking time. This variety was developed with support from the Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Delivery of Legumes and Dryland Cereals in Africa (AVISA) project.
He spoke to Channel One News during a visit to farms in the Yendi and Gushegu districts, on Tuesday, October 1, where about 200 women are being supported to cultivate these improved cowpea varieties.
The project does not only seek to introduce improved varieties to farmers but also train farmers in good agronomic practices and post-harvest handling of produce through the training of Agricultural Extension Agents of MoFA who interact with these farmers regularly.
Farmers have so far been trained in planting, fertilizer applicating and timely insecticide application in order to obtain the expected yield on farmers’ field.
Through interaction with some of the women farmers, it was observed that fertilizer application and insecticide application was new to them and they have so far seen the benefits and importance of these activities in unlocking the genetic potential of the crop.
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Dr. Tengey encouraged the women farmers to follow the recommended cultivation practices to ensure maximum yields.
A Professor from Texas Tech University, Agricultural Science and Natural Resources, Conrad .P. Lyford, PhD, also spoke about the project, highlighting its long-term benefits and their plans for continued support of this initiative
Access to fertile land for farming has traditionally been a challenge for women in the region. The professor appealed to men in the community to assist women by providing access to land for cultivation.
Abubakri Mohammed Sherif, Head of Agriculture Department at Gushegu District, described the project as timely, noting that it would go a long way in alleviating the challenges faced by farmers in the region.
The project is being implemented with the help of production assistants (PAs) who regularly guide the women on proper farming techniques.
Madam Sanchin Naaba Sharatu, one of the Agricultural Extension Agents at Yendi, shared her thoughts with Channel One, urging farmers to closely follow the instructions provided.
The women expressed their gratitude to the AEA and the project team, noting how the initiative would positively impact their families.
Cowpea is a highly nutritious crop, and its success will contribute to the nutritional needs of families. Though the project currently focuses on women, men are expected to benefit as well.
This year (2024) has been especially tough for farmers in the northern region. An extended dry spell lasting over two months led to the destruction of many crops.
Maize, rice, sorghum, and yam fields dried up, causing widespread concern about a looming food shortage in the country. The government has had to impose a temporary ban on some food exports and has pledged to assist struggling farmers.
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