The CSIR, Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) commissions a new screen house and irrigation facility at its Kwadaso Station in Kumasi to strengthen the production of high quality vegetable seed in Ghana.

The commissioning takes place under the leadership of the Director of CSIR-CRI, Prof. Maxwell Darko Asante, and forms a key highlight of a two-day intensive training programme for okra seed producers drawn from across the country.

The facility represents a strategic investment in Ghana’s vegetable seed system. It provides CSIR-CRI with modern, controlled infrastructure that directly addresses one of the most persistent challenges in okra seed production and maintaining genetic and varietal purity.

Okra is a highly cross pollinated crop and its flowers are frequently visited by a wide range of pollinating insects, including bees, butterflies and beetles. When these insects move pollen between different varieties planted in close proximity, it leads to unwanted cross pollination.

This compromises the genetic purity of seed lots and reduces their quality, certification value and performance in farmers’ fields. The new screen house addresses this problem by creating a physical barrier between the crop and external pollinators. Instead of relying solely on isolation by distance, which is often difficult to enforce in densely cultivated areas, the structure offers controlled isolation.

‘’This form of physical isolation pushes varietal purity to above 99.9 percent, a significant improvement that ensures breeder and foundation seeds meet strict certification standards.’’
CSIR-CRI

Complementing the Screen House is a Reliable Irrigation System

The irrigation infrastructure allows CSIR-CRI to decouple seed production from seasonal rainfall patterns. This means the Institute can produce high-quality breeder and foundation seed throughout the year, ensuring a consistent and dependable supply for the seed value chain.

The combined infrastructure therefore enhances both the quality and the continuity of seed production. This development is being implemented under the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) Okra Breeding Program.

The programme is funded by the CGIAR/CIMMYT-FAO VACS Partnership, which is hosted at CIMMYT, and receives support from a broad coalition of partners, including 10 government donors, 27 non-governmental organizations, private sector champions and four flagship implementing organizations.

It operates alongside the Vegetable Compact of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme, which is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The Kwadaso facility is part of a wider regional effort to modernize okra breeding and seed systems. Similar screen house structures are being established at the World Vegetable Centre in Benin and at the National Horticultural Research Institute in Nigeria.

Together, these investments signal a coordinated push to improve vegetable seed quality and availability across West Africa.

Beyond the infrastructure itself, the commissioning ceremony emphasizes capacity building and practical learning. The event brings together seed producers, members of seed cooperatives and training facilitators who travel to Kwadaso specifically for the okra seed production training.

The presence of these stakeholders transforms the commissioning from a purely ceremonial inauguration into a practical learning experience. Participants are able to see first-hand how isolation, genetic purity and quality assurance are applied in a real production environment.

The screen house serves as a live demonstration of the core principles they explore during the training programme and from the importance of maintaining varietal identity to the procedures required for producing certifiable seed.

By linking the infrastructure directly to the people who will use and benefit from it, CSIR-CRI reinforces the practical relevance of the investment.

For Ghana, the implications are far reaching. The country continues to face growing demand for quality vegetable seed, driven by expanding commercial vegetable production and rising consumer demand.

A reliable, locally anchored seed system is essential to meeting this demand. By strengthening its capacity to produce breeder and foundation seed of consistent and certifiable quality, CSIR-CRI positions itself to play a central role in supplying the foundation for a more sustainable seed sector.

The facility also contributes to national efforts to reduce dependence on imported seed and to build resilience in the food system. With climate variability increasingly affecting rainfall patterns, the ability to produce seed under irrigation throughout the year offers an important buffer against seasonal disruptions.

In the long term, the screen house and irrigation system form part of a broader agenda to professionalize vegetable seed production in Ghana. They support CSIR-CRI’s mandate to develop and disseminate improved varieties, while empowering local seed producers and cooperatives with the knowledge and tools needed to scale up quality seed production.

About the VACS Breeding Okra Project

The VACS Breeding Okra Project aims to accelerate the development and dissemination of adapted, nutritious and climate-resilient okra varieties across Africa. It focuses on establishing fully functional okra breeding programmes that apply innovative technologies and methodologies for continuous varietal improvement.

The project seeks to deliver market-preferred varieties that improve livelihoods and nutrition, attract greater private sector investment into okra breeding and seed systems, and build the capacity of seed producers and the next generation of okra breeders.

With a geographic focus on Benin, Nigeria and Ghana, the project works to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of okra breeding programmes. Its goal is to ensure these programmes routinely develop and deliver market-driven varieties that respond to the needs and preferences of both farmers and consumers.

Ultimately, the project aims to promote wider adoption of improved okra varieties, increase consumer acceptance and strengthen okra value chains, contributing to more resilient, nutritious and profitable food systems across the participating countries.