The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Prof Elvis Asare-Bediako, has emphasized the need for farmers to be central to agricultural research and innovation. He made this statement at the 26th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Ghana Institute of Horticulturists (GhIH) in Sunyani. The conference, which is on the theme “Building a Resilient Tomato Value Chain in Ghana: Need for Stronger Stakeholder Engagement,” aims to bring together stakeholders to discuss ways to improve the tomato value chain in Ghana.
Prof Asare-Bediako noted that farmers are often the first to experience the effects of climate variability, pest outbreaks, rising input costs, and market fluctuations, yet they are sometimes the last to be consulted when solutions are being designed. He called for stronger farmer-researcher partnerships, with researchers spending more time in farmers’ fields and farmers participating in the identification of research priorities. This, he believes, will ensure that research findings translate into practical solutions for farmers.
The UENR VC also highlighted the importance of plant health in building a resilient tomato value chain. He called for stronger disease surveillance, early detection, diagnostics, and integrated pest and disease management. Prof Asare-Bediako emphasized that Ghana needs to improve the links between diagnostic laboratories, research institutions, extension officers, and farmers to ensure that emerging threats are detected and addressed early.
Prof Asare-Bediako challenged universities and research institutions to do more to ensure that scientific findings translate into practical solutions for farmers. He noted that one of the major challenges facing agricultural research is not necessarily a lack of knowledge, but the distance between knowledge and application. He called for multidisciplinary research involving plant scientists, soil scientists, agronomists, economists, food scientists, engineers, social scientists, computer scientists, data specialists, farmers, and extension professionals.
The UENR VC also highlighted the need for greater investment beyond the farm gate. He noted that tomato farmers can lose significant value even after producing good crops because of inadequate transportation, storage, packaging, marketing systems, and processing capacity. He called for stronger processing capacity, improved storage and transportation systems, better packaging, and stronger quality standards.
Prof Asare-Bediako identified several areas that require stronger collaboration, including disease-resistant varieties, climate-smart production, efficient irrigation, soil health and fertility management, digital agriculture, early-warning systems, post-harvest management, value addition, market intelligence, and youth entrepreneurship. He emphasized that the Ghana Institute of Horticulturists is strategically positioned to serve as a platform linking science, practice, policy, and professional development.
Prof Asare-Bediako encouraged the Ghana Institute of Horticulturists to strengthen its role as a national convener for horticultural knowledge, innovation, and stakeholder engagement. He urged stakeholders to build trust and sustain engagement beyond individual conferences and meetings, emphasizing that engagement alone is not enough, but meaningful engagement that results in research priorities, technologies, improved farmer incomes, stronger plant health, increased investment, reduced post-harvest losses, and job creation.
Key points
- Prof Elvis Asare-Bediako calls for greater farmer participation in agricultural research and innovation.
- The UENR VC highlights the importance of plant health in building a resilient tomato value chain.
- Prof Asare-Bediako emphasizes the need for greater investment beyond the farm gate to improve the tomato value chain in Ghana.
