Nyankpala, Ghana – July 2025
In its ongoing efforts to accelerate the adoption of improved agricultural technologies, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) has announced plans to distribute 1,000 seed kits to farmers and stakeholders as part of the 2025 Technology Park activities.
One of the key objectives for this year’s Park is to ensure that visitors not only observe technologies on display but also take home quality seed samples for on-farm testing and adoption. To this end, CSIR-SARI has procured one ton (1,000 kg) of foundation seeds representing the most requested technologies from last year’s exhibition. These include fall armyworm-tolerant maize hybrids, Songotra-T cowpea variety, Gbewaa rice, Favour soybean variety, and high oleic groundnut varieties.
Each seed kit will be packaged in 1 kg quantities and distributed during a specially organized Field Day, scheduled to coincide with the planting season. Farmers receiving the kits will be encouraged to plant the seeds on their own farms, offering them an opportunity to experience the benefits of these improved varieties firsthand.
“This initiative is not just about showcasing technologies—it’s about putting them in the hands of farmers,” said Dr. Francis Kusi, Director of CSIR-SARI. “We are confident that by facilitating access to these high-performing seeds, we are strengthening food security, improving productivity, and driving innovation at the grassroots level.”
In addition to the seed kit distribution, CSIR-SARI is also responding to increased demand for quality seed yams, which spiked following last year’s demonstrations at the Technology Park. To address this, the Institute has procured approximately 20,000 foundation seed yams to be multiplied into certified seed. These efforts are expected to further boost the availability of quality planting material in Northern Ghana and beyond.
The Technology Park, hosted annually at CSIR-SARI’s headquarters in Nyankpala, serves as a live demonstration hub for climate-smart and market-relevant technologies. It draws farmers, researchers, extension agents, development partners, and agribusinesses from across the country and the West African sub-region.
With this year’s activities, CSIR-SARI continues to position the Park as a springboard for widespread technology dissemination and inclusive agricultural transformation—bridging the gap between science and the people who need it most.
