The VACS project, which began in November 2023 and ended in September 2026, aimed to improve farmers' awareness of and access to climate-adaptive and nutritionally enriched pearl millet and cowpea varieties. The project, funded through the Feed the Future initiative, was implemented by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) in collaboration with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, IWAD Ghana, ANTIKA Company Limited, and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Beneficiaries of the project, who were trained as Village-Based Advisors (VBAs), have reported significant improvements in their farming practices and livelihoods. Mr. Basiru Alhassan from Bawku in the Upper East Region, a trained VBA, said his participation in the project had transformed him into a model lead farmer, inspiring other farmers in his community. He cultivated improved pearl millet varieties, including Akad Kom and Naad K, on half-acre plots, producing a combined yield of 400 kilogrammes from one acre.
The project introduced small seed packs to enable farmers to test the performance of improved varieties before investing in larger quantities. This approach helped to increase the adoption of improved pearl millet varieties, which are more tolerant to bird attacks and mature in about 75 days, making them suitable for areas experiencing rainfall challenges. Mr. Adongo Simon Apuko, a farmer from Kalbeo in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region, said the improved pearl millet varieties had changed his decision to abandon pearl millet production after repeated attacks by wild birds.
The project produced and supplied certified seed, distributed over 100,000 small seed packs, and supported more than 500 demonstration plots and 300 field days to promote improved varieties and good agronomic practices. It also trained over 100 agro-dealers and more than 400 VBAs, who were established as independent farmers to strengthen seed delivery. Dr. Tchala Noudifoulè, the Coordinator of the VACS project, said the project had helped to establish a seed value chain to improve smallholder farmers' access to improved and climate-resilient pearl millet and cowpea varieties.
The project supported the promotion of three improved cowpea varieties; SARI-Tuya, Kanton-Bongdaa, and Awudu-Benga, through foundation seed production, demonstrations, and linkages with private seed companies and agro-dealers. Mr. Seidu Mubarak Abdulai, Manager of ANTIKA Company Limited, a seed-producing company, said ANTIKA produced 98.12 metric tonnes of certified pearl millet seed against a target of 90 tonnes, while IWAD Ghana produced 67.5 metric tonnes of certified pearl millet seed against a target of 60 tonnes.
Key stakeholders have highlighted the potential for sustaining the seed system, citing opportunities for two cropping cycles, increasing demand for certified seed, and market opportunities for pearl millet and cowpea. Dr. Peter Anabire Asungre, Pearl Millet Breeder at CSIR-SARI, said the project had moved improved pearl millet varieties from research stations into a more functional seed production and delivery system. The beneficiaries and stakeholders are optimistic about the project's impact on food security, incomes, and livelihoods in the northern part of Ghana.
Key points
- The VACS project improved access to climate-adaptive and nutritionally enriched pearl millet and cowpea varieties for smallholder farmers in Ghana.
- The project established a seed value chain, producing and supplying certified seed, and trained over 500 Village-Based Advisors and agro-dealers.
- The initiative has the potential to be sustained, with opportunities for two cropping cycles, increasing demand for certified seed, and market opportunities for pearl millet and cowpea.
