Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture, West Africa Regional Hub’s Post

Transcript

Key partners in agricultural development in Africa are in Accra and discussing how to augment the consumption of indigenous fruits and vegetables to improve diets in Ghana do an integral part of the diet. In many countries in the sub region, including Ghana, these products have not been prioritized by policymakers and stakeholders in agriculture. Discussions at the Accra meeting therefore focused on raising awareness on indigenous fruits and vegetables for health benefits. Income generation and job creation. Indigenous fruits and vegetables are integral parts of the diet in many countries in West Africa. They are essential sources of dietary components and contain essential minerals and vitamins necessary for maintaining human health and strengthening resistance to disease and infections. Given these potential benefits from the production and consumption of these products in Ghana, the question arises why policymakers and stakeholders in the agriculture sector have not given. There's a higher priority for those reason. Feed the Future Horticulture Innovation Lab as funding the production and consumption of indigenous fruits and vegetables to improve diets in Ghana and Mali. And for the funding arrangement, the University of Ghana will work with the Forum for Agricultural Research, FARA to implement various activities and engagement to promote the production and consumption of indigenous vegetables and fruits in Ghana and Mali. Then indigenous vegetables of interest and other projects are cocoyam leaves and techie berries for Ghana and pumpkins and melons seeds. Formally the project lead as Doctor Gloria, a selfie. We chose 4 commodities. We had okra guarding eggs and cocoyam leaves, that's our consumer and techie berries, which is our common susua and we wanted to look at these commodities and look at the value chain. What happens along the value chain? The executive director of the Forum for Agricultural Research. Doctor agree our Gumia said the need to promote the consumption of indigenous fruits and vegetables as featured in the 2026 Framework for Agriculture development in Africa. So the work that we are doing that we are engaged in now contributes to. Unique agenda, It will be formulated at continental level and then domesticated at country level. I am proud that we are working ahead ahead of the The Director of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Food Research Institute, Professor Charles Totoy, said data on the nutritional value of these indigenous crops could significantly improve its acceptance and called for investments. Move the sector. He encouraged other public to make fruits and vegetables a part of their daily menu. Some of these indigenous crops have over the years been left and we have not incorporated them. What we are advocating is that we should start incorporating them into our foods. When you take the route and tubes, we have the cocoyam, sweet potatoes, yam, water, yam and even in the various. Serious and legumes these crops are important to support our food system and our nutrition partners. Working under the project are the foreign for Agricultural research in Africa with University of Ghana, Legon CSR, Young Professionals for Agricultural Development and U.S. TV.