The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has called for increased investment in scientific research and innovation to reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported tomato and ginger, and strengthen the country’s horticultural sector.

It said sustained funding in climate-resilient crop varieties, improved seed systems, irrigation infrastructure, disease management and farmer training would help increase local production, enhance food security and drive the transformation of the sector.

The call was made by a Principal Research Scientist at the CSIR Crop Research Institute, Dr Michael Osei, during the 2026 Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) Visibility Webinar Series on “CSIR’s Interventions on Tomato and Ginger.”

 The event was organised on Friday in collaboration with the CSIR.

Dr Osei explained that Ghana continued to spend millions of dollars on importing tomato and ginger due to low yields, limited access to quality seeds, inadequate irrigation, declining soil fertility and the impact of diseases such as bacterial wilt.

He outlined short- medium- and long-term interventions to address the challenges.

These include developing climate-resilient crop varieties, expanding irrigation infrastructure, improving soil management practices and strengthening farmer training.

He also proposed the establishment of a Ghana Tomato Board and a dedicated horticultural research institute to drive specialised research in the sector.

Dr Osei added that the CSIR was developing disease-resistant ginger varieties, producing clean planting materials through tissue culture and strengthening disease surveillance systems to help restore local production.

The Acting Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, in an address read on his behalf by the Director of Research, Statistics and Information Management at the ministry, Reverend Dr Cephas Adjei Mensah, said the government remained committed to strengthening scientific research and innovation.

He noted that the successful implementation of the government’s Feed Ghana Programme depended on sustained investment in research and technology to address challenges in the agricultural sector.

Mr Buah said research conducted by the CSIR demonstrated how science could directly support national development by producing improved crop varieties capable of withstanding adverse climatic conditions, increasing productivity, extending production seasons and strengthening agricultural value chains.

He commended scientists at the CSIR Crop Research Institute and the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute for their role in advancing Ghana’s agricultural transformation.

He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s research ecosystem and promoting the commercialisation of locally developed technologies.

In an address read on his behalf by the Deputy Director-General of CSIR, Professor Marian Dorcas Quain, the Director-General of CSIR, Professor Paul Bosu, said the institution remained committed to supporting the Feed Ghana Programme through science-driven research and innovation.

He noted that tomato and ginger were strategic crops with significant nutritional and economic value, but their production continued to be constrained by climate change, pests and diseases, declining soil fertility and post-harvest losses.