India and Ghana have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in agricultural research, education, and technology transfer. The MoU was signed between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) in Accra, Ghana. This partnership aims to enhance South-South and India-Africa collaboration, focusing on joint research, capacity building, and commercialization of agricultural technologies.
The signing ceremony was attended by S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India, and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ghana. The five-year MoU provides a framework for cooperation in various areas, including joint agricultural research, scientific and technological exchange, and capacity building. Arima Farms Ltd., Ghana, has been recognized as the commercial partner to CSIR-CRI for specific research and commercialization activities under the framework.
The initial phase of cooperation will focus on vegetable crop research, with a particular emphasis on tomato research and development. ICAR will support the scaling up of proven agricultural technologies and introduce suitable high-yielding tomato lines and varieties to contribute to strengthening domestic tomato production in Ghana. This partnership aims to improve agricultural productivity and food security in Ghana.
The collaboration will also focus on processing and value addition of cassava, yam, and other tuber crops, with the objective of strengthening agricultural value chains. Additionally, cooperation will cover post-harvest management, including technical support and capacity building in cold storage, refrigerated transportation, sorting, grading, and processing technologies. This will help address post-harvest losses and improve the overall efficiency of the agricultural sector.
The MoU provides for the exchange of scientists and technologists, germplasm and breeding materials, scientific information, methodologies, and technical knowledge. It also envisages institutional linkages between relevant research institutes and centers of the two countries to facilitate sustained scientific cooperation. A Joint Working Group comprising representatives of ICAR and CSIR-CRI will oversee the collaboration and review progress.
The partnership is expected to strengthen the linkage between agricultural research, technology development, capacity building, and commercial application. This will facilitate the adoption of relevant agricultural technologies and contribute to sustainable agricultural development and improved livelihoods in Ghana. The collaboration will also promote institutional linkages and knowledge sharing between India and Ghana.
The MoU is a significant step towards enhancing agricultural cooperation between India and Ghana. With a focus on research, education, and technology transfer, this partnership has the potential to transform the agricultural sector in Ghana and improve food security. The collaboration will be mutually beneficial, enabling both countries to share knowledge and expertise in agricultural research and development.
Key points
- India and Ghana sign historic MoU to advance agricultural research, education, and technology transfer
- The partnership aims to strengthen South-South and India-Africa collaboration in agricultural research and development
- The MoU provides a framework for cooperation in joint agricultural research, capacity building, and commercialization of agricultural technologies