Kumasi (Ashanti), 19th July 99 -

The Crops Research Institute (CRI) has given the assurance that it does not grow the "terminator" seed and that farmers can rely on the seeds it supplies for multiplication.

Dr Ernest Asiedu, Seed Scientist of CRI, gave the assurance when Mr Cletus Avoka, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, inspected the institute's maize farm on the second day of his familiarisation tour of research institutions under the Ministry in Kumasi.

Dr Asiedu explained that the terminator seed could be cultivated between one to two generations, after which it would not yield.

He said the danger with the seed is that it pollinates other farms and affects their yields, adding that it is a way of getting farmers dependent on seed growers.

Professor F.K.A. Allotey, Chairman of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), has called for the ban of the technology, which produces the terminator seed.

According to Professor Allotey, if the technology were allowed into the country, farmers would not be able to replant seeds harvested from their farms.

Dr Asiedu told the Minister that from a total maize production of 30,000 metric tonnes in 1979, the country now produces 1.5 million metric tonnes.

He attributed this to the high-yielding and streak-resistant varieties of maize introduced by the institute, and said this has helped to stop the importation of maize.

Dr John Alex Otoo, Co-ordinator of the Roots and Tuber Crops Improvement Project, told the minister that the project is carrying out research to get a cassava variety which has the characteristics of malt for use in brewing.

He said Guinness Ghana Limited has expressed interest in using the variety in the production of its stout beer to reduce the cost in importing malt.

The institute has so far released three varieties of cassava, namely, Afisiafi, Gblemoduade and Abasa Fitaa, as well as four varieties of sweet potato, Okum Kom, Farar, Santum-Pona and Sawuti, for cultivation.