Sunyani West Agric directorate introduced farmers to 4 new varieties of Taro, holds food bazaar 

The Sunyani West Municipal Directorate of Agriculture has outdoor four new varieties of Taro to farmers in the Municipality and held a food bazaar to showcase a variety of dishes prepared with taro.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of Crop Research Institute in Kumasi introduced the four new varieties of the traditional staple locally referred to as ‘asi kooko’.

The varieties are Hougbelor, Yen Anya Woa, Asempa, and Agyenkwa.

Speaking in an interview, the Bono Regional Agric Director, Mr Dennis Abugiri Amenga, said the introduction of the new varieties had become necessary because of the Taro leaf dry disease that destroyed many Taro farms, causing shortages on the market that kicked many farmers out of business.  

He indicated that the food bazaar was aimed at showcasing indigenous Ghanaian dishes like fufu, Ampesie, mpotompoto, aprapransa, among others, that could be prepared with taro.

The food bazaar will also equip the women who participated with new cooking skills to help them to become self-sufficient and to contribute to the development of their areas.

The agric director urged beneficiaries of the training to make good use of the knowledge and skills they had acquired to better their lot and called on the farmers to take a keen interest in the planting of staple food.

A research scientist at the Crop Research Institute, Dr Kofi Frimpong Anning, said the new varieties introduced are highly tolerant to any disease and resistant to the Taro leaf dry disease

Soireenews in a random interview with some of the women participants expressed gratitude as they had learned new skills, which they would make good use of. They called on the general public to patronize Taro as it tastes good and has many nutrients.

Nana Ama Asiedu, Bono Region