Where we Work » Ghana
Ghana: Promoting
Bambara Groundnut
According to the latest World Food Programme report, 3.6 million Ghanaians face food insecurity, especially in northern semi-arid regions deeply affected by climate change. There, approximately 80% of households farm the land and have the highest rates of food insecurity.
Project Summary
Boosting Food Security Through
Bambara Innovation
To tackle this, we’ve partnered with CSIR-SARI, a Ghana-based institution focused on developing agricultural innovations to increase food security in the area.
Our project in Ghana is aiming to produce a commercial variety of Bambara groundnuts, a “super crop” typically grown by women farmers, that is drought resilient and nutritious.
With the new variety, we expect to reach 1.6 million farmers significantly increasing their crop yields, food security and income from the marketing of surplus groundnut.
Current Initiative
Project Stages
* Current stage highlighted with green frame
Stage One
Engage Farmers to Understand Bambara Groudnnut Preferences
Stage Two
Breed & Test Preferred Variety. Outreach to Farmers for Training
Stage Three
Apply to Commercialize & Release New Variety
Stage Four
New Variety Improves Income, Nutrition & Climate Resilence
Project Details
Our Work in Ghana
Grantee Institution
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI), a public scientific research institution in Tamale, Ghana.
Team
- Francis Kusi (PhD), Research Scientist and Director of CSIR-SARI.
- Patrick Attamah (PhD), Breeder
- Michael Mawunya (MPhil), Weed Scientist.
Key Partners
Ministry of Food and Agriculture of Ghana, agricultural extension services. Seed Producers Association of Ghana, seed production. Heritage Seed Company LTD, seed production. Rural Agrihub and WhatIf Foods, purchasing and processing of Bambara groundnuts.
Background
Origins of the Initiative
Climate Vulnerability
Northern Ghana is part of the Sahel, a semi-arid region with high levels of food insecurity and one of the most vulnerable parts of the world to the effects of climate change. According to the most recent World Food Programme report, 3.6 million Ghanaians suffer from food insecurity, with the prevalence ranging from 22.6% to 48.7% in the five northern regions. In these regions, approximately 80% of households farm the land, and farmers and herders have the highest rates of food insecurity.
The Crop: Bambara Groundnut
Bambara groundnuts are a type of bean used as cooked beans and processed into oil, flour, and milk. They’re a traditional crop in northern Ghana, mainly grown by women. The beans are highly nutritious, one of the highest value crops that can be grown in the region on a per kg basis, well adapted to drought conditions, and a legume that enhances soil fertility. WhatIf Foods, a startup in Singapore, is scaling up production of Bambara groundnut milk for the international market and sourcing its raw product from Ghana.
Demand & Market Opportunity
However, yields are low, in part because little scientific research has been done on the crop and no commercial varieties exist. Among the other challenges associated with the crop are the length of the growing season and the time it takes the beans to cook. Production has increased in recent years but remains low relative to non-native crops such as maize.
Our Approach & Projected Impact
Scaling Farmer-Led Solutions for Nutrition and Resilience
Approach
The project will work closely with women farmers and other stakeholders to understand the agronomy and economics of Bambara groundnut production, particularly which traits are most desired, and breed the first commercial variety accordingly. It will develop innovation platforms that link research and development with agricultural extension (e.g., through on-farm trials). It will also conduct trials to develop recommended management practices (especially plant spacing, fertilizer, and weed control) and work with the private sector to develop seed production systems and markets for farmers’ produce.
Impact
The project aims to develop the first variety of Bambara groundnut in 3 years and release it commercially in the 4th year. Using the Australian ADOPT model, the team projects that 1.6 million farms will adopt improved Bambara groundnuts within 5 years of release and 6.4 million within 20 years, which would represent a similar adoption rate to what the institute achieved with rice. Those who adopt should see improved income and better nutrition, particularly for women and infants, even in the face of climate change.
Current Status
On the Ground: Q2 Progress
This quarter, the CSIR-SARI Bambara groundnut breeding project in Ghana made key advances in selecting and multiplying varieties tailored to local preferences, using advanced breeding methods, and preparing for field trials. They identified 38 varieties with desirable traits for farmers, such as large seeds suitable for milk and flour production. Additionally, the project focused on capacity building, training farmers in eight communities on making biochar and compost to enhance soil quality and yields. In the Upper East region, they introduced Integrated Weed Management techniques for sustainable weed control and better crop performance.
Role of Grow Further
How Grow Further Supports This Work
Grow Further will provide a grant over 3 years to cover all research and development costs associated with the project. Agricultural extension and commercialization costs will primarily be borne by the Ministry of Agriculture and the private sector, respectively. Grow Further will also provide capacity building, particularly around monitoring and evaluation and marketing and communications. In the event that the results of the project are widely adopted, Grow Further will arrange a rigorous independent evaluation to determine whether it successfully improved nutrition, farm income, and other socioeconomic variables.
