The West African Centre for Crop Improvement, WACCI, University of Ghana received a delegation from the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) earlier last week. The IFDC delegation from different parts of Africa sought to engage the team at WACCI for a better understanding of WACCI’s mandate, and to explore areas of shared interest and collaboration.
The IFDC delegation was led by Dr Bocar Diagana, the IFDC Deputy Regional Director, North and West Africa. The team comprised delegates from Benin, Burkina Faso, La Cote D’voire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Uganda, and the United States of America.
Introducing WACCI to the delegation, the Director, Professor Eric Danquah, highlighted the successes of the centre, which include graduating 105 PhD students from 15 African countries, releasing over 200 varieties of staple crops and attracting over US$ 37 million for research and development projects. Prof Danquah also underscored WACCI’s efforts to increase local farmers’ access to improved seeds through the centre’s public private partnerships. He stressed the need for a direct pipeline between agricultural researchers and farmers, which can be achieved through policy and investment in research, adding that African governments need to prioritise sustainable food value chains to reduce food imports.
The IFDC delegation was impressed with WACCI’s work and mandate. After touring the facility and visiting the tissue culture lab, seed science lab and plant growth room, they were convinced of WACCI’s science-led approach to agriculture. The delegation expressed their gratitude for the warm reception and agreed to further engage WACCI for future collaboration. Present in the meeting were academic staff and administrators of WACCI.
