Experts push for strategic investment in Roots, Tubers, and Bananas (RTBs) to boost food security and exports

Experts push for strategic investment in Roots, Tubers, and Bananas (RTBs) to boost food security and exports

Experts have called for strategic investments in roots, tubers, and bananas (RTBs) to enhance food security, promote import substitution, and drive export growth. The consensus was reiterated at a stakeholder engagement organised by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the International Potato Center (CIP), held in Accra. Centered on the theme, “Leveraging Science, Technology and Innovation to enhance food security, promote import substitution and drive export promotion”, it aimed to provide a platform for engagement among key stakeholders from government, research institutions, development partners and private sector to deliberate on practical strategies to enhance Ghana’s food systems and promote agricultural transformation.

The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, in a speech read on his behalf by the Chief Director of MEST Madam Suweibatu Adam, highlighted the pivotal role RTBs play in the continent’s agricultural and food security landscape saying it is time for Ghana to rethink investment in that area.

“The time has come for us to rethink how we breed and scale up these crops,” Dr. Mohammed remarked, pointing out that despite their importance, RTBs face numerous challenges such as low-yielding varieties, pests, diseases, and weak market linkages.

He highlighted the substantial contribution of RTBs, like cassava and yams, to the country’s agricultural GDP, noting that though they represent 30% of the sector’s economic output, their potential remains underutilised, and the sector’s development requires scientific advancement and strategic investments. “The cost of cereal imports in West Africa alone is nearing $10 billion annually, draining our economies and exposing us to global shocks,” he added.  The Minister said the revolution would need modern breeding programs using genomic tools and data, strong policy and institutional backing, private sector involvement for commercialisation, and leadership from African nations, with Ghana taking the lead.

Prof. (Mrs.) Marian D. Quain, a Chief Research Scientist and Deputy Director-General at CSIR, also highlighted the economic opportunities within the RTB sector, particularly through value addition and export promotion. She pointed to banana production as a prime example of untapped potential, with innovations such as using banana stems for fibre, presenting additional income opportunities for farmers.  On export opportunities, she noted that while many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana still view export as a domain for large corporations, there is a concerted effort to shift this perception. “We are working to establish dedicated Made-in-Ghana retail outlets like the Ghana Mall in Labone to support SMEs in accessing both local and international markets,” Prof. Quain stated.  The roundtable also saw contributions from other participants, who echoed the importance of public-private partnerships in driving the growth of RTBs.

For his part, Dr. Simon Heck, Director-General of the International Potato Center(CIP), shared insights into the work the center has been doing in Ghana for over 30 years, emphasising the importance of developing bio-fortified varieties, such as vitamin A-enriched sweet potatoes, that address child nutrition gaps.  Dr. Heck noted that the success of these varieties had been significant, especially in the northern regions of Ghana, where the programme had already made strides in propagating these crops. He said while the reliability of yields was a clear advantage of root and tuber crops, farmers also prioritised food quality and income potential.

We have varieties that are particularly suited for that, for the use in food processing, let’s say, rather than for home consumption and we can prioritize these varieties if you come on board as a partner,” he added. “Our collaboration with the food industry aims to promote the use of these crops as viable ingredients for products such as bread and breakfast cereals, highlighting their value beyond primary production” He reiterated collaboration with local institutions and the private sector to scale these innovations across the country.

Ghana is the second-largest producer of cassava in West Africa and a major exporter of premium yam tubers

Source: Corporate Affairs Division (2025)