The Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) actively participated in AgriFair 2025, held from June 20 to 23 at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra. Organized under the theme “From Farm to Market: Linking Innovation with Access,” the fair brought together farmers, agribusinesses, researchers, policymakers, and the general public to explore practical innovations in agriculture.
At the event, CSIR-SARI showcased its latest climate-resilient crop varieties tailored to the northern Ghanaian agroecological context. These included improved varieties of cowpea, soybean, groundnut, and sorghum, with special emphasis on SONGOTRA-T and Wang Kae cowpea—two early-maturing, pest-resistant varieties developed to improve food security and farmer incomes in drought-prone regions. Due to their limited availability on the open market, many visitors took the opportunity to purchase seeds directly from the CSIR-SARI stand.
One of the highlights of the event was SARI’s training session on seed yam production using vine cuttings, a groundbreaking innovation that allows farmers to multiply clean seed yam from vine materials instead of whole tubers. The method significantly reduces production costs while increasing the availability of planting material, making it a scalable solution for commercial yam farming. The demonstration attracted strong interest, particularly from youth and extension officers seeking sustainable propagation techniques.
In addition to technology demonstrations and training, CSIR-SARI also used the platform to engage visitors on the Alliance for Cowpea Improvement in Africa (ACIA) project. Staff shared information about the project’s objectives, its focus on improving cowpea value chains, and its impact on smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana.
CSIR-SARI’s participation at AgriFair 2025 reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to bridging the gap between research and practice. Through its display and outreach, SARI continues to promote farmer-centered innovations that address real-world agricultural challenges and enhance resilience in the face of climate change.
