FAO Hands over Quinoa Seeds to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for Adaptive Trials
February 24, 2016 - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO has handed over seven varieties of quinoa seeds to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for a multi-locational adaptive trial in the various agro-ecological zones in Ghana.
The crop has a high potential to contribute to regional and global food security due to its nutritional characteristics and agronomical versatility.
Preliminary field trial- results conducted by the Ministry and Savana Agriculture Research Institute (SARI) from two varieties already received have shown that quinoa has the potential to adapt to the Ghanaian agro-ecologies.
Speaking at a ceremony to hand over the seed varieties to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the FAO Representative to Ghana Dr. Abebe Haile-Gabriel highlighted FAO’s endeavors in supporting the efforts of African countries including Ghana towards improving food and nutrition security and livelihoods through among others promoting adaptation of crops that have proved economically beneficial in other regions of the world. The quinoa varieties that were imported from Latin America for adaptation in Ghana and other 15 African countries are part of this effort, he said.
Mr Emmanuel Asante-Krobea, the Director of Crop Service at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) expressed his profound gratitude on behalf of the ministry and all Ghanaians to FAO for the organization’s consistent support to the ministry. He said “quinoa cultivation is a golden opportunity for the country as a whole”.
Mr Asante-Krobea said the ministry intends to try the crop in the regions to establish its adaptability in all the agro-ecological zones (Wenchi, Asuansi, Kpeve, Babile and Mampong and Nyankpala) in the country.
He said “considering the crop’s benefits, health-wise and economically, establishing market linkages will be enough incentive for farmers to go into quinoa cultivation.”