Seed producers participating in the trial of Ghana’s first genetically modified cowpea, the Songotra T Cowpea, are calling on the government to fast-track its nationwide distribution.
The Bt Cowpea, developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research–Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR–SARI), has demonstrated strong resistance to pests and a marked increase in yields. It contains a gene from the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacterium, which provides natural protection against the Maruca vitrata pod borer—a major pest that has long plagued cowpea farmers across the country.
During the initial testing phase, six local seed producers were chosen to grow and evaluate the performance of the Songotra T Cowpea. All reported encouraging results, noting increased productivity and a significantly reduced reliance on chemical pesticides.
“We saw a remarkable improvement. This seed defends itself—we didn’t need to spray nearly as much, and the yields were far beyond what we’re used to,” said Alhassan Baba and Abudulai, two of the participating producers.
They expressed full readiness to scale up production, pending broader availability of foundation seeds.
“No farmer who tries this seed will want to return to the old variety. We’re ready for full-scale production—we just need timely government support to make this innovation accessible to farmers across Ghana,” they said.
The producers emphasized that a swift national rollout could lower production costs, reduce dependence on cowpea imports, and strengthen food security.
“This seed brings value to farmers and profit to producers. During SARI’s field demonstrations, we saw tremendous interest—farmers are eager to adopt it,” they added.
Dr. Jerry Nboyine, Principal Investigator of the Bt Cowpea project, confirmed that CSIR–SARI is actively distributing foundation seed to certified seed producers nationwide.
“The advantages are significant—reduced pesticide use, higher yields, and strengthened food security,” Dr. Nboyine stated. “We are establishing systems to ensure that producers have reliable access to foundation seed. What’s needed now is broader support to scale up distribution across the country.”
He also assured that the pricing of the Bt Cowpea seed will remain under the regulation of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to maintain affordability for farmers.
“The Bt Cowpea will be sold at the same price as conventional varieties. Cost will not be a barrier,” he noted. “We currently have over 7,000 kilograms—equivalent to 7 metric tons—available at the institute, and seed producers have already begun acquiring it for multiplication.”
Dr. Nboyine further emphasized that there are no access restrictions for qualified seed producers.
