Schnurr says scientists should have first spoken to farmers to assess how many of them would grow genetically modified cooking banana. Image by Ankur Paliwal. And because the crop can be harvested within two months of sowing, it fills the “hunger gap” for poor families between May and August when other crops, such as maize, are still young in the field. In particular, weevils - post-harvest pests - can destroy a granary full of cowpea in two or three months. (The paper was retracted the following year after a review found that “the conclusions described in the article were unreliable.”) The speaker also announced that waakye, a popular cowpea delicacy slow-cooked with rice, would be made using that same technology. INTRODUCTION On the basis of area cultivated, cowpea is the most important food legume in Ghana. “But they are not doing enough groundwork with an open mindset.”. Interviews with a wide range of Ghanaians revealed some reservations about genetically modified foods. The legume is a favorite among farmers and laborers, who consume it before work and don’t feel hungry until sundown. These historical details were published in a paper by University of Minnesota sociologist Rachel Schurman, who had interviewed employees of the Rockefeller Foundation, biotech companies, and scientists in Africa. Today, with financial support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, OFAB organizes meetings between scientists, farmers, and the media. Oduro remembers a debate organized by a government ministry in Accra last year, where the audience was asked to vote on the introduction of GM foods. They grow the crop and use it in their food basket. It can also help reduce the use of pesticides, they say, freeing up land for other uses, providing enough surplus for regional market opportunities, and giving farmers an additional choice about what to grow. Every woman in Zinindo keeps some cowpea in her home, says Alidu. • Cowpea is an important source of protein for human and animal nutrition in many parts of the semiarid - tropics • Cowpea yields at farmers’ levels in Northern Ghana are low and the yield reducing factors include insect pests, Striga infestations and low adoption of recommended or improved production … The ma-jor production areas elsewhere in the world are Asia (India, Myanmar) and the Amer- But they had conditions. Cowpea is directly grown from seed, and depending on the purpose for production, it can be grown as a sole crop or intercrop with other crops like cereals, e.g. While some African scientists are working tirelessly to reassure laypeople that GM foods are safe, it’s clear that safety concerns, however unfounded, are not the only challenge standing in the way of GM cowpea in Ghana. For one, he has travelled internationally. THE ROOTS of GM cowpea date back to the 1990s, when the Rockefeller Foundation, a New-York based philanthropy, entered into a series of conversations with companies that own many of the genes used to modify food, including Monsanto, DuPont, and Syngenta. He wants the government and international aid organizations to use their money to build storage facilities, subsidize seeds and farm equipment, and create more demand for cowpea. Although scientists and the OFAB are working to get that message out — with some scientists even asking their pastors to let them speak about GM food after Sunday prayers — changing public perception “is extremely challenging,” says Vivian Oduro, a plant scientist with the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute in Accra. And cowpea tolerates droughts, which are increasing across sub-Saharan Africa. Amid this and other criticisms, the companies agreed to an alliance. He says it doesn’t make sense to introduce the crops without solving other problems, such as storage, in the agricultural supply chain. Ghana, 2019. Region of Ghana since 53% of the total cowpea output is sold by smallholder farmers for income. In 2015, an Accra-based newspaper ran an article that quoted him saying genetically modified food is safe. Both Schnurr and Brian Dowd-Uribe, an associate professor at the University of San Francisco who is researching a GM cowpea project in Burkina Faso, are concerned that orphan crop projects are likely to perpetuate the old agriculture development pattern which benefits rich farmers first and to a greater extent than the poor ones. “These [GM] technologies are being privileged at the expense of other potential interventions,” says Matthew Schnurr, a professor at Dalhousie University in Canada. It is estimated that the annual world cowpea crop is about 12,5 million ha of which the total grain production (for food) is 3 million tons. 2.1 Cowpea production ..... 5 2.1.1 Varieties and production areas ..... 5 2.1.2 Production levels ..... 5 2.1.3 Problems associated with cowpea ... in Ghana. In India, where GM food crops are not yet permitted, some farmers have started growing GM eggplant illegally because they believe it is less costly to grow. But whether the seeds will truly benefit small farmers like Alidu and her family — that remains an open question. Fischer’s research in South Africa indicates that its GM maize, which resists a common pest that bores into the stalk of the plant, poses a challenge to poor farmers in particular because non-subsidized seeds are expensive and the crops require regular watering as well as synthetic fertilizers. “Prof. In Ghana, the debate around GM food is highly polarized, as it is elsewhere in the world, even in the U.S., where resistance has paralleled a growing demand for organic foods and clear labeling of genetically modified products. harvested annually. Farmers grow cowpeas on over 180,000 hectares in Ghana, more than any other legume crop in the country. Over time, other big donors such as UK Aid, and corporations such as PepsiCo, joined the coalition. 3 to 5 tons/hr 16.0. The Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CRI-CSIR), has introduced four new common bean (baked beans) varieties, for adoption by farmers. About 90 percent of Ghana’s cowpea is grown in the north, and while there’s unmet demand for cowpea farther south, bad roads and lack of storage, among other factors, have deterred traders, says Nyaaba. Prof. Asare said cowpea had been identified as a multipurpose protein-dense food security crop widely consumed in Ghana but the major challenges confronting cowpea production included Infections, viruses, and drought, most of which could not be controlled by cultural practices, weedicides, and insecticides. 4. He said cowpea was rich in nutraceuticals compounds such as dietary fibre, antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols. Contact Ghana, 2019. We believe that beans can improve the food security, income and health of smallholder farmers and urban dwellers across Africa, as well as contribute to improved soil fertility. Image by Ankur Paliwal. The production is high in the savannah areas and the margins of the semi-deciduous forest (forest-savannah transition zone) . The release of the cowpea production is … Here in this rural village, Alidu and other poor farmers have not been following these controversies. Key words: Technical efficiency Cowpea production Ghana INTRODUCTION Region is also a major commercial cowpea growing area. Vivian Oduro, a biotech scientist in Ghana, says it is time that scientists speak louder than the anti-GM lobby if they want to change public perception. The bulk of production occurs in the savannah regions of Northern Ghana, although cowpea can be grown in all ecological zones of Ghana. In stark contrast to his work today, roughly three years ago, Nashiru was leading marches in northern Ghana against GM crops. IDIOT!” wrote one commenter after the article was posted on GhanaWeb. According to Baffour, organic food is “natural” and “obviously the future of the world.” Organic food, however, is expensive to grow because it requires more labor and costly herbal insecticides, which farmers like Alidu cannot afford. Ghana, 2019. An exploratory market study of cowpea products in Ghana using data from case studies of consumers, personal interviews of processors and market surveillance of retail outlets indicated that the cowpea processing industry has low milling capacity, low production level, and few small operators most of whom have been in the business for less than six years. Item Categories Sample Percent. Ankur Paliwal is an independent science journalist and co-founder of Land Conflict Watch—a journalism initiative that maps and collects data about ongoing land conflicts in India. That day, the audience voted against genetically modified crops. Growth, Nodulation and Yield Response of Cowpea to Phosphorus Fertilizer Application in Ghana: B. Karikari, E. Arkorful and S. Addy: Abstract: Phosphorus is a major limiting nutrient in soils in Ghana. Researchers at those institutes would then use the genes to develop seeds for orphan crops that could resist pests, tolerate drought and excess salt, and enhance nutrition. Traditional cooking banana is low in vitamin A, and almost half of children in sub-Saharan Africa are vitamin-A deficient. A winged pest, Maruca vitrata, bores into the pods and nibbles away at the seeds, destroying anywhere between 20 and 80 percent of West Africa’s cowpea crops every year. Alidu is skeptical. Any concerns with the new technology had not yet reached them. This makes them prone to diseases and blindness. The farmers didn’t even know what they were marching for. Yet the African Agricultural Technology Foundation does not yet have a project to address this problem. Out-scaling of quality seed of improved cowpea varieties • Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) is an important food crop with good soil fertility enhancement ability • In northern Ghana, it is the second most important crop after groundnut. Annual production in 2011 was estimated at more than 235,000 tonnes. Famers growing these new varieties target home consumption and street vending foods, “Waakye”, a traditional nutritious street dish made from beans and rice, is very affordable. Ghana, 2019. She adds the paste along with other ingredients into a cooking pot balanced upon a make-shift stove, consisting of two uneven rocks with a small fire burning between them. USAID representatives say that their agency promotes biotechnology when conventional breeding is too slow or ineffective to improve a given crop. The two agro-industries have strong linkages with farmers/producers and aggregators working along the value chains of many crops. ON A HOT morning, Alidu opens one of the plastic bags in which she stores her cowpea beans to discover tiny brown weevils — a type of beetle — scurrying around inside. That, they said, is a good thing. For these reasons, some poor farmers in Uganda may continue to plant their preferred traditional cooking banana varieties, which are not amenable to genetic modification. Smallholder farmers are encouraged to participate in cowpea production when distance to both. Two years later, a report by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine concluded that there is “no substantiated evidence” that GM crops are less safe than non-GM crops. “The donors and scientists probably have good intentions, and they want to help,” says Klara Fischer, an associate professor of rural development at the Swedish University of Agriculture Sciences. West and Central Africa are the leading cowpea producing regions in the world producing 64% of the estimated 3 million tons of cowpea seed. Ninety percent of Ghana’s cowpea is grown in the northern part of the country. Cowpea Stakeholders’ Meeting (see below). Otherwise, overproduction could lead to price declines in local markets and the crop could rot in the field. What worries some critics is that all of Africa’s genetic modification projects are closely tied to Western organizations. The major production areas elsewhere in the world are Asia (India, Myanmar) According to recent estimates, if GM cowpea is released next year, it will take five to 10 years for it to reach the projected maximum adoption rate of about 70 percent of farmers because of the negative perception surrounding GM foods. “There is no free lunch,” says Edwin Kweku Andoh Baffour, a spokesperson for Food Sovereignty Ghana, the most active anti-GM group in the country. Video of the farm visit and the launch of the bean varieties is on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7yu5F5zTCI. These groups reached out to African scientists, many of whom believe that biotechnology can solve some of African agriculture’s problems. Ethiopia: A "Land Grab" or a Path to Food Security? In … But this particular variety will require farmers to apply more fertilizer and maintain specific sowing space. Some Aspects of Cowpea Flour Production in Ghana. But “the goal of these projects is focused on small farmers,” says Schnurr. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), is a food and animal feed crop grown in the semi-arid tropics covering Africa, Asia, Europe, United States and Central and South America. Almost all of Africa’s genetic modification projects are closely tied to Western organizations. Anti-GM marches have occurred across Ghana, with many of them centered in Accra. Image by Ankur Paliwal. In Ghana, supporters of GM cowpea welcome Western support and believe the international partnerships serve the interests of local farmers. Other countries in Africa, e.g. Agricultural economist Irene Egyir wants promoters of GM cowpea to create local industries that process cowpea into other products so that farmers can earn more money. GM cowpea’s main donor, USAID, does work to solve supply-chain issues for maize, rice, and soybean in Ghana. maize. ... Weeds are serious problem in cowpea production. UNDER THE noonday sun, Alimatu Alidu uses a stone to grind tomato, red pepper, and small crayfish into a red paste. In fact, cowpea is one of the few food crops in Ghana not currently being processed for use in other products, says Irene Egyir, an agricultural economist at the University of Ghana. Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon. After the prayer is finished, the old man introduces Mohammed Adams Nashiru, head of a farmers’ group in the region. We work with more than 350 partners and members across 30 countries to do just that. In 2004, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation was launched. In other parts of the world, there is some evidence that genetically modified crops can help small farmers. Email : ciatkenyainfo@cgiar.org Ghana will in about a year see the commercial release of pest-resistant Barceló’s Thurigensis (BT) cowpea seeds to the food value chain for mass cultivation by farmers. During the launch release, participants among them farmers were taken on a practical field visit to experience the performance of the varieties on-farm. Distribution is also a problem. About 90 percent of Ghana’s cowpea is grown in the north, and while there’s unmet demand for cowpea farther south, bad roads and lack of storage, among … Ghana is the highest cowpea growing country with over 180,000 hectares, more than any legume in the country. We also believe that by increasing the competitiveness of bean markets, we can provide consumers with better products and contribute to the economic growth of our member countries. African Agricultural Technology Foundation officials have said they will work on reducing post-harvest losses in coming years. Some maintained that the foods looked “too clean,” though few had actually seen these foods. Other days, Alidu prepares cowpea fritters, or koose, whipping ground cowpea and water into a batter, adding spices, then frying individually-rolled balls to be served for breakfast. This is why biotech scientists say it’s best to offer choices and let farmers decide which seeds best meet their needs. If cowpea were similarly industrialized, says Egyir, this would increase demand and likely help cowpea farmers earn more money. Richard Ampadu-Ameyaw, Ghana coordinator for OFAB, thinks it is best to train leaders like Nashiru whose community ties and farming background lend him credibility in the eyes of local community members. Dr Abdourhamane said the crop was widely cultivated and that consumed cowpea was an important legume for the nutrition and health of people in many countries hence the need for Ghana to boost its production. According to Alidu, none of them have ever returned. Wouldn’t there be something wrong, they wondered, with a crop that even insects won’t eat? Schnurr has been researching GM orphan crop projects in Africa for over a decade. Further, social scientists warn that GM seeds are being pushed by international donors without fully taking into account the agriculture practices of poor farmers and the specific crop characteristics that they most want and need. That made Oduro furious. Efforts to reach out to private sectors operating in restaurants and agro-industry have permitted to introduce bean crop to two new food processors including Premium Foods Limited (PFL) funded by World Food Programme (WFP) and Government of Canada, and a private agro-industry under the government of Ghana initiative, Casa de Ropa. Richard Ampadu-Ameyaw, Ghana’s coordinator for the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa, believes that training journalists and farming leaders about the science of GM food is the best way to dispel myths around it. Subsistence farmers Lamnatu Alidu (left) and Alimatu Alidu (right) in northern Ghana depend on cowpea to meet the protein requirement of their 16-person family. Capacity Under 1 Ton/hr 52.0. Background information on cowpea production in Ghana; Introduction . Examples of recipes in Ghana that include cowpeas are tubaani (steamed cowpea pudding) and waakye (rice and red or brown cowpeas cooked together). The West African Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) has organized a workshop program for cowpea value chain at the WACCI auditorium in the University of Ghana, to understand the cowpea value chain, challenges of cowpea production, ways to resolve these issues and how to increase its production in Ghana. Sorghum, for example, is bought by breweries to make beer. In response, scientists have genetically modified cowpea plant lines to resist the pest, and advocates for the technology — which involves altering an organism’s DNA in ways that aren’t possible through traditional breeding — believe that genetically modified (GM) cowpea can help feed the fast-growing population on a warming planet. This core meeting is planned for Accra, Ghana, during November 18–20, 2003. For one, she and some of Zinindo’s farmers already intercrop cowpea, which lessens pest infestation. 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