The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) played a pivotal role in the 2nd Program for Seed System Innovation of Vegetatively Propagated Crops in Africa (PROSSIVA) Annual Review and Planning Meeting, held from January 29–31, 2025, at the Mariam Hotel in Tamale, Ghana.

This high-level event brought together scientists, policymakers, private seed sector actors, and development partners to evaluate progress and refine strategies for strengthening seed systems for vegetatively propagated crops (VPCs), including yam, cassava, banana/plantain, and sweet potato, across Africa.

CSIR-SARI’s Commitment to Strengthening VPC Seed Systems

In his opening remarks, the Director of CSIR-SARI, Dr. Francis Kusi, welcomed participants and reaffirmed CSIR-SARI’s commitment to supporting seed system transformation in Ghana and beyond.

He highlighted CSIR-SARI’s track record in developing and releasing improved varieties of multiple crops, including yam, sweet potato, cassava, Frafra Potato, maize, rice, millet, sorghum, cowpea, soybean, cotton and groundnut, while also ensuring the availability of agronomic, soil fertility, and crop protection packages tailored to climate change realities.

“Vegetatively propagated crops like yam and cassava have proven their resilience, particularly during last year’s severe drought that significantly affected cereals and pulses,” the Director stated.

He further commended PROSSIVA’s efforts in addressing technological, marketing, and institutional bottlenecks in the seed systems of these crucial crops, aligning with CSIR-SARI’s mission.

CSIR-SARI’s Role in Seed Yam Research and Commercialization

CSIR-SARI has been at the forefront of research and innovation in seed yam production, collaborating closely with IITA under PROSSIVA to enhance breeder and foundation seed production through advanced techniques such as Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) and field production methods.

  • Dr. Kwabena Darkwa, the Yam Breeder and the CSIR-SARI Project Lead for PROSSIVA, provided key insights into CSIR-SARI’s contributions, emphasizing that:
    Seed entrepreneurs have been identified, trained, and supported to drive commercial seed yam production.
  • Public-private partnerships are being explored to scale up production and ensure quality seed availability.
  • Regular monitoring and quality assurance mechanisms have been put in place in collaboration with the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD).

Dr. Darkwa noted that CSIR-SARI’s research efforts are directly influencing seed policy and commercialization models, ensuring that quality yam seeds reach more farmers.

Expanding Seed Yam Production: The Next Steps

A major highlight of the discussions was the growing demand for seed yam in Ghana and the diaspora, following a widely broadcasted documentary produced by CSIR-SARI on seed yam production technologies. This documentary generated strong interest from farmers, investors, and commercial seed producers, leading to the submission of three partnership proposals for large-scale seed yam production.

  • Despite these successes, Dr. Kusi highlighted key challenges:
    Limited infrastructure at SARI for seed yam production—existing facilities, established under earlier projects, are outdated and need urgent upgrades.
  • Absence of an advanced tissue culture laboratory at SARI, making the institute dependent on CRI and IITA for clean planting materials.
  • Need for investment in modern seed production technologies to meet the rising demand for high-quality seed yam.

Dr. Kusi emphasized that expanding and modernizing CSIR-SARI’s facilities is crucial to positioning Ghana as a leader in the global seed yam industry.

Charting the Path Forward

Throughout the three-day PROSSIVA meeting, participants engaged in expert presentations, panel discussions, and planning sessions to refine strategies for Year 3 of the project. The event will conclude with a field visit to CSIR-SARI on January 31, 2025, where stakeholders will witness firsthand the institute’s ongoing research and innovations in VPC seed systems.

CSIR-SARI remains committed to leveraging science, partnerships, and innovation to drive agricultural transformation and improve farmer livelihoods in Ghana and across Africa.

With strong leadership from CSIR-SARI, PROSSIVA is shaping the future of seed systems for a more resilient and productive agricultural sector!