CSIR, ARIMA Farms collaborate to improve wheat, soyabean production

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Crops Research Institute (CRI), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ARIMA Farms Ghana, a leading agricultural company, to develop and enhance wheat and soybean production in the country.

The agreement aimed to increase the production of wheat and soybeans, essential staple crops in the country.

Wheat is an essential ingredient in bread and pasta making, while soybeans are extensively used in various food products and as a source of vegetable oil.

The CSIR-CRI, a leading research institution in Ghana that specialises in crop research and development, will provide scientific advice on the most suitable regions for cultivation, develop a crop protocol (a step-by-step guide for successful cultivation), evaluate and validate the crop, conduct research trials and facilitate the transfer of technologies and products.

ARIMA Farms, a private agribusiness enterprise, is also expected to fund the project, oversee cultivation, identify and develop suitable lands for farming and provide capacity building and training opportunities for CSIR-CRI staff.

Approximately 10,000 hectares of these crops are established commercially by ARIMA Farms, and the company and the Catholic Diocese of Kumasi in the Fumesua area of the Asanti Region jointly manage the farmlands for cultivation.

The CSIR-Crops Research Institute, on the other hand, will provide technical backstopping for the project.

The project is undergoing rigorous testing or field trials in the country's northern parts.

Research

The Deputy Director-General, CSIR-Ghana, Professor Marian D. Quain, emphasised the critical role of scientific research in achieving import substitution and enhancing food security.

“You just can't bring in seeds and start planting. For any new variety to be introduced, it must undergo extensive trials, be evaluated across agro-ecological zones and be registered with the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD).

This process ensures both the adaptability and safety of the crop, and the CSIR is the institution mandated to generate that scientific data,” she said.

She emphasised the importance of the partnership, noting that the MoU signing was both timely and long overdue.

“Ariama Farms has shown remarkable initiative.

They have recognised the research potential within CSIR to help progress their ambitious agricultural objectives—particularly in wheat production, which has become a national priority,” she added.

Prof. Quain disclosed that the CSIR launched the National Wheat Development Programme in Kumasi earlier this year, a strategic effort to reduce the country’s heavy dependence on wheat imports.

She said Arima Farms had quickly aligned itself with the initiative and shown interest in other CSIR research areas, including soybean cultivation, vegetable farming and soil health and fertility.

“This is how strategic partnerships work. We are not just focusing on planting; we are engaging in the entire value chain—from varietal trials to post-harvest management and capacity building for farmers,” she said.

Reset

Prof. Quain said the partnership aligned with the CSIR’s mission to support the government’s reset agenda, saying, “In the context of the current government initiatives to reset Ghana, we find ourselves actively participating in key national programmes such as the 24-Hour Economy, Blue Ghana and others”.

She said Arima Farms was playing a visible role under the Ministry of Agriculture’s flagship programme - Feed Ghana Initiative, adding that these initiatives highly depend on private sector participation.

Commitment

The Managing Director (MD) of ARIMA Farms Ltd, Saalai Manikam, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to producing high-quality, environmentally sustainable food; “But to compete globally and feed our nation efficiently, we need to embrace science”.

“We have been working with the Crop Research Institute since 2021 and the collaboration will focus on cultivating wheat and soybean while simultaneously initiating wheat seed multiplication as a vital step in ensuring Ghana’s long-term food security and reducing reliance on imported grains,” she said.

Ms Manikam emphasised that as part of its inclusive approach, the company will integrating smallholder farmers as outgrowers, providing them with agricultural inputs and technical training to guarantee off-take at their farm gates.

“The project's second phase will allocate portions of its farmlands to young people, train them and convert them into agripreneurs to help reduce unemployment,” she said.

The Business Development Director of   Arima Farms Ltd, Nana Barema Hashepong, described the partnership as a “strategic vision for national food sovereignty.”