WACCI, AATF to step up research into tomatoes

Officials of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), a centre within the University of Ghana, have completed discussions with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, Kenya (AATF) to increase research into tomatoes and other crops.

The paper work to that effect has been finalised, according to the Director of the WACCI, Professor Eric Danquah.

Prof Danquah said after the discussions that : “WACCI and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, Kenya (AATF) yesterday (Friday September 6, 2019) completed conversations on research collaborations to step up research to tomato among other crops.”

He added that : “Executive Director of AATF, Denis Kyetere and Director, Resource Mobilization/Commercialization, Sofia Tesfazion and I met with WACCI graduate, Dr Leader Melormey to finalize paper work on a funded joint project.

“AATF is funding a postdoctoral position at WACCI for the engagement of Leander to take her research to farmers and markets.”

WACCI was a partnership between the University of Ghana (UG) and Cornell University, USA that was established in June 2007 with funding from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) at the University of Ghana to train Plant Breeders in Africa working on the improvement of African crops in local environments for farmers in Africa.

The centre has the vision of becoming the foremost Centre for post-graduate training and research in crop improvement in Africa.

AATF also works towards food security and poverty reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa.

AATF is active in 13 countries of east, southern and west Africa (Ghana), currently addressing challenges bedeviling key staples in Sub-Saharan Africa that include maize, rice, cassava, cowpeas, bananas and potatoes.