Petition to Breed Climate-Resilient Crops in Ghana Gaining Expert Support
According to the petitioners there is an urgent need to pass the PBB in Ghana in order to foster innovation so that plant breeders develop better varieties of crops for use by Ghana’s farmers.
The petitioners include the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) of the University of Ghana, the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen, the Ghana Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission and the Cornell Alliance for Science, Cornell University.
A statement issued by the group and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Monday said the petition, which could be viewed online at http://wacci.edu.gh/content/ghana-plant-breeders-bill have been signed by more than 200 persons, many of whom are national experts and practitioners.
It said these crops might be drought-tolerant, climate resilient, higher yielding, pest or disease-resistant or have other benefits such as enhanced nutrient content.
Osahiro Nishihata