Accra: Ghana's premier scientific research institution and a private agricultural firm have signed a major agreement to cultivate wheat in commercial quantities for the first time, a landmark move to cutting the nation's reliance on imports. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Arima Farms Limited on Thursday formalises a partnership agreement that has been testing wheat varieties since 2013.
According to Ghana News Agency, the collaboration seeking to bolster food security through a private sector-driven research model also aims to expand the production of soybeans, introduce advanced farming technologies from India, and create a complete value chain from seed to market. Speaking during the session, Professor Marian Dorcas Quain, Deputy Director-General of CSIR, said the initiative supports the government's reset agenda, particularly the 'Feed Ghana' model, aiming to substituting imports with local produce and conserving foreign exchange.
The CSIR, which operates 13 institutes and about 60 stations nationwide, is providing the scientific backbone for the project. The MoU is a key part of its five-year strategic plan, launched in 2023, to ensure its research is driven by private sector needs. The partnership extends beyond wheat to include soybeans, vegetables, and improving soil health. 'This MoU goes beyond just the wheat,' Prof. Quain said, noting that it aligns with CSIR's strategic plan to pursue private sector-driven research.
Arima Farms, which initiated its relationship with CSIR in 2021, brings private sector investment and a focus on commercial execution. The company is securing farmlands in the Drabonso and Kumawu areas of the Ashanti region, in collaboration with the Catholic Diocese of Kumasi, for seed multiplication and cultivation. Ms. Saalai Manikam, Managing Director of Arima Farms Limited, emphasized the project's community focus stating, 'Ours is a social enterprise where community development is equally important, not only commercial development.'
The project will leverage technology and mechanization partners from India. Arima has arrangements with Mahindra and Mahindra for tractors and farm implements. Jain Irrigation, the world's second-largest irrigation company, will provide affordable solutions crucial for mitigating climate risks. Arima is also facilitating technology transfer to help CSIR advance its coconut research.
The initiative has received strong backing from traditional authorities, including the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who has been instrumental in making land available. Barima Sarpong II, who is also Director, Business Development at Arima Farms, explained that the project aimed to create jobs, particularly for young people, by training them as 'agri-preneurs' who will manage plots of land within the larger farm. It also introduces a new, fully mechanizable soybean variety.
While soybeans could be available to farmers within one to two years, the more complex release process for wheat means it could take two to three years to reach the market, according to officials. The partners are optimistic about the long-term impact and are already exploring export markets. 'We are signing now with an Indian Food. company that they want to sign off to for us to cultivate here and send, they will buy,' Barima Sarpong II said. 'We believe in research,' he added. 'We plan that in the next 10 years Ghana will be a wheat sufficient country.'
