India, Ghana to Boost Agricultural Research, Technology Transfer
India and Ghana have bolstered collaboration in agricultural research, education, and technology transfer through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in New Delhi and the Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) in Accra, Ghana.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare states that this MoU will enhance India’s emphasis on South-South and India-Africa partnerships.
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The signing ceremony was attended by S Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Ghana.
The five-year MoU establishes a structure for collaboration in joint agricultural research, scientific and technological sharing, skill development, and the implementation and commercialization of agricultural technologies.
The partnership has been enabled by Arima Farms Ltd., Ghana, which has been acknowledged as the business partner to CSIR-CRI for particular research and commercialization efforts under the framework, according to the Ministry.
The initial stage of collaboration will prioritize research on vegetable crops, specifically concentrating on the research and development of tomatoes. Through this partnership, ICAR will aid in the expansion of established agricultural technologies and the introduction of appropriate high-yielding tomato lines and varieties to enhance domestic tomato production in Ghana.
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The Ministry stated that the collaboration will also emphasize the processing and enhancement of cassava, yam, and other tuber crops, aiming to reinforce agricultural value chains. Collaboration will also encompass post-harvest management, providing technical assistance and capacity enhancement in cold storage, refrigerated transport, sorting, grading, and processing technologies to tackle post-harvest losses.
The MoU facilitates the exchange of scientists and technologists, germplasm and breeding materials, scientific data, methodologies and technical expertise, along with the development and execution of joint research initiatives.
It also anticipates institutional connections between pertinent research institutes and centers of the two nations to promote ongoing scientific collaboration.
The cooperation will be managed by a Joint Working Group made up of representatives from ICAR and CSIR-CRI, who will assess the cooperation's progress and direct its implementation. The announcement indicated that the Joint Working Group will convene regularly in New Delhi and Accra.
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The collaboration aims to enhance the connection between agricultural research, technology advancement, skill development, and commercial use, promoting the uptake of pertinent agricultural technologies and aiding sustainable agricultural progress and better living standards in Ghana.