by PressBt-vigna: a genetically modified variety may soon appear in Ghana’s fields
Bt-vigna can yield up to 4 times more than standard crop varieties
Scientists at the Savannah Institute, which conducts research in the agricultural industry, have developed a genetically modified crop, and it could become the first to be produced in Ghana. Now, in order for Bt-vigna to grow in local fields, it must get permission from the national office that handles biosecurity issues.
The project to create and test the genetically modified bean crop variety is being conducted in conjunction with workers from the SARI Institute and the State Council for Science, CSIR. Since 2017, scientists led by Dr. Jerry Nboyine have conducted various studies on Bt-vigna to study its performance, growing characteristics, and other characteristics. Scientists have taken a total of 100 seeds, and in that time have managed to increase that number to 15 kilograms, which they plan to plant this season. It is expected that the harvest from the designated amount will come out to about 200 kg.
It should be noted that vigna is quite a popular crop in Ghana. Its demand on the domestic market is about 169 thousand tons per year. At the same time, the volume of legume production in the country is estimated at 57 thousand tons. Genetically modified vigna can help to increase yields; thanks to Bt technology, high results can be achieved for almost all commercial varieties grown by local farmers. Bt-vigna yields about 2 tons per hectare, which is four times higher than what producers in the country are currently harvesting.
In theory, conventional varieties of vigna should yield about 20 bags per hectare, but in practice, farmers harvest an average of 5 bags or less. It is the pest, the bean moth, that reduces production. The insect invades during the flowering period and completely destroys the crops, and farmers lose most of their harvest.
In turn, Bt-vigna has moth-resistant genes, so production volumes can be significantly increased. In addition, genetically modified seeds need fewer pesticides and fertilizers, which will reduce farmers’ costs. Nowadays, spraying of fields for protection against moths amounts to 6 times in a season; with the new variety, it can be reduced to 2 times.
Cultivation of this variety will reduce the import of the crop and thereby increase the food security of the country. In addition, Bt-vigna can become part of a government program, which involves an increase in production to increase the number of jobs for the people of Ghana.
For now, scientists are waiting for permission to plant from the government office, after which they can begin commercial production of Bt-vigna. It should be noted that the use of genetically modified varieties of agricultural plants has always been hotly debated, but the food crisis may change this course.