Ghana Releases GM Cowpea for Commercial Cultivation

After over a decade of research, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) launches pod borer-resistant (PBR) cowpea for commercial cultivation in Ghana. PBR cowpea is the first genetically modified (GM) crop to be developed in the country.

Cowpea is a vital crop rich in protein used for human and livestock consumption. However, the pod borer pests challenged the productivity of cowpeas, causing up to 80% yield losses. Thus, PBR cowpea was developed to eradicate the harmful effects of pests and provide higher yields to farmers.

Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern Regional Minister, said that the release of this variety shows the government's commitment to advancing agriculture and improving the lives of the Ghanaian people. “By adopting the PBR cowpea, farmers can look forward to improved productivity, increased incomes, and enhanced food security,” Professor Aggrey Ambali, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the African Agriculture Technology Trust Foundation (AATF) said.

For more information, read the article from Ghana News Agency.

See https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=20932