Ghanaian cowpea farmers are being encouraged to adopt the Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) Cowpea, known as Songotra T, to significantly boost bean production in Ghana and across Africa.

Dr. Daniel Osei Ofosu, Senior Research Scientist at the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, made the call, highlighting the benefits of this new variety.

Songotra T, an improved version of the conventional Songotra, is Ghana’s first commercially approved Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) and is set to be distributed to cowpea farmers soon.

According to Dr. Ofosu, the PBR cowpea was developed through modern biotechnology, which enhances the crop’s resistance to Maruca vitrata, a pest that severely damages cowpea crops.

He explained that the technology used in Songotra T enables scientists to modify the crop’s genes to improve traits such as pest resistance and tolerance to adverse conditions like drought.

Speaking at a workshop organized by the Ghana Chapter of the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in the Bono East Region, Dr Ofosu, who also serves as the country coordinator for the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS), stressed the potential of this technology to help stabilise the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of African countries by reducing their reliance on imported food.

“Biotechnology offers innovative solutions to various challenges in agriculture, including climate change, pests, and diseases,” he noted.

The workshop, which gathered over 100 farmers and journalists, aimed to educate participants on the PBR cowpea technology, its benefits, and the role of biotechnology in addressing the challenges facing Ghana’s agricultural sector.

Mary Ama Kudom-Agyeman, Executive Director for the Media Platform on Environment and Climate Change, emphasised the importance of cowpeas in the Ghanaian diet.

She explained that the introduction of Songotra T would enable farmers in the Bono East Region to increase their yields without relying heavily on pesticides.

“Our farmers are suffering; instead of harvesting 10 to 15 bags of cowpea, they are only harvesting two or three due to Maruca infestations.

This has driven up the cost of cowpeas in the market,” she said. She added that the improved Songotra T cowpea, which is expected to be available by 2025, is a significant step towards addressing the agricultural challenges in Ghana and Africa.

Dawuda Mohammed, a cowpea farmer and presiding member of the Kintampo Municipal Assembly, shared his excitement about the new variety.

He explained that heavy reliance on pesticides to control Maruca has increased production costs, forcing many farmers to abandon cowpea cultivation.

“We are excited about Songotra T because it can withstand Maruca vitrata. Currently, we only harvest 2 to 5 bags per acre, which is why a bag of beans costs as much as GH¢3,000.

"This new seed will allow us to increase yields, and I’m eager to return to cowpea farming once it becomes available,” he said.

With the impending release of the improved Songotra T cowpea, farmers across Ghana anticipate a boost in production, reduced reliance on pesticides, and lower costs, benefiting both producers and consumers.