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CSIR-CRI introduces new tomatoes
In the soil of Kumasi and Berekum, two new tomato varieties are changing the way farmers think about food, science, and the future. They are called KOPIA Tomato and CRI-Kwabena Kwabena.
Developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research–Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), these are Ghana’s first-ever open-pollinated tomato varieties. That means farmers can save seeds, replant, and reap the benefits without relying on expensive imports or hybrid restrictions.
“This is a game-changer,” said Dr Michael Kwabena Osei, lead research scientist on the project. “These tomatoes mature early—just 55 days—and they are built to thrive. High yields, strong disease resistance, and high Brix levels make them perfect for fresh markets and industrial processing alike,” he added.
Backed by Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) and funded through the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA), the project also enjoys support from Ghana Care Obaatanpa under the Ministries of Agriculture and Finance.
Recently, the newly appointed KOPIA Ghana Director, Dr Young Jin Kim, visited tomato project sites in Kumasi and Berekum. Accompanied by KOPIA Administrator, Mr Noah Lanyon, Farm Manager, Mr Abdullah, and visiting scientist, Hyunju Jeong, the team toured breeder and foundation seed fields—where the future of Ghana’s tomato industry is being quietly cultivated.
Local farmers spoke with pride about the new varieties. They praised their resilience, sweetness, and market appeal. But they also voiced a clear plea that “timely access to seeds is critical if this breakthrough is to reach its full potential. These tomatoes are ready. We just need the seeds to reach us in time,” they indicated.
The varieties are already thriving in Ghana’s forest and transitional agro-ecological zones—covering Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo regions. Adaptive trials are underway to expand their reach nationwide.
FROM KINGSLEY E. HOPE, KUMASI
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Mrs Patience Antonio, a Child and Family Development Advocate, has called for a national campaign to reduce the growing reliance on breast milk substitutes among nursing mothers in Ghana.
According to Mrs Antonio, scientific evidence shows that breastfeeding improves a child’s emotional stability, boosts intelligence, strengthens the immune system, and provides long-term health benefits. She made these remarks in an interview with The Spectator in Accra last week, emphasizing the importance of breastfeeding for a child’s overall development.
She explained that breastfeeding is not just a biological act of feeding but a key emotional and developmental bridge between mother and child. She also highlighted the need for the recommended six-month maternity leave period to ease the pressure on mothers to return to work prematurely.
“Breastfeeding creates intimacy and trust. It assures the baby of love and security, which becomes the foundation for their emotional health,” Mrs Antonio noted, warning that abandoning exclusive breastfeeding could have long-term implications on children’s social and emotional wellbeing.
Consequently, she called for a minimum of five months of fully paid maternity leave for Ghanaian mothers to enable effective breastfeeding, bonding, and healthier child development. She also urged workplaces to implement family-friendly policies, including private spaces for breastfeeding, flexible working arrangements for nursing mothers, and stronger support systems for new parents.
Mrs Antonio further encouraged families and society to actively support mothers during breastfeeding, stressing that many women struggle due to lack of assistance at home or the pressure to return to work too soon. She emphasized, “If we want a healthier, emotionally stable generation, then we must make breastfeeding a priority and support mothers to do it without stress.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Spectator
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The Nanvili Community School in the Mion District of the Northern Region is facing severe infrastructural challenges, affecting teaching and learning for pupils in the area.
The school, which serves five surrounding communities with a total of 58 pupils, has deteriorated to the extent that many children have stopped attending classes. Poor classroom conditions and the lack of desks have made teaching and learning difficult. During a visit to the school, the gate-free classrooms were found filled with goat and sheep droppings.
During the rainy season, both teachers and pupils are often cut off from the school due to bad roads and flooding. Teaching activities are frequently suspended for weeks, negatively affecting academic performance.
The Assemblyman for the area, Mr. Dawuni Mutawakil, expressed concern, noting that the situation is worrying since these pupils are expected to compete with their counterparts in urban areas who have access to better facilities. He added that due to limited space, classes have been merged, with pupils from Primary One and Two, Three and Four, and Five and Six sharing the same classrooms.
The Chief of Nanvili, Abu Kassim, also appealed to the government and non-governmental organisations to come to the aid of the community. He emphasized that the current state of the school discourages children from nearby communities from attending.
Both the Chief and Assemblyman have called for urgent intervention to improve infrastructure and provide furniture for the pupils to ensure quality education for children in the Nanvili area.
By Geoffrey Buta, Nanvili, Northern Region
Spectator
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