Benin, Mali, and Burkina Faso release 68 vegetable varieties

Smallholder farmers in West Africa are set to gain access to additional vegetable seed varieties following the release of 68 new vegetable varieties under the SafeVeg project, led by the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg).

The varieties have been released in Benin, Mali, and Burkina Faso and include chilli and habanero peppers, tomatoes, okra, amaranth, onions, roselle, jute mallow, and African eggplant. The releases increase the number of officially recognized vegetable varieties across the three countries from 70 to 138.

According to project partners, access to improved vegetable seed varieties has been a constraint for the sector. Prior to the SafeVeg project, many varieties listed in national seed catalogues were outdated and did not meet current farmer and market requirements.

The newly released varieties were developed to provide higher yields, resistance to pests and diseases, and improved fruit and leaf quality. Researchers also indicated that the varieties require fewer pesticide applications.

Of the 68 varieties released, 60 were developed by WorldVeg. The remaining varieties were developed by regional partners, including Benin’s National Agricultural Research Institute (INRAB), Burkina Faso’s Institute of Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA), and the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin.

“This number of new vegetable variety releases is astounding,” said Dr Mathieu Ayenan, Associate Scientist and Vegetable Breeder at WorldVeg. He added that the outcome demonstrates the role of research, funding, and partnerships in supporting vegetable production.

The five-year SafeVeg project concludes this week in Cotonou, Benin, where researchers, policymakers, and agricultural stakeholders are meeting to review the project’s results.

Since 2023, Benin has registered 50 new vegetable varieties, increasing the country’s total six-fold. Mali has released 15 varieties, bringing its total to 48, while Burkina Faso has registered nine new varieties, increasing its total to 36. An additional 14 varieties already released in Benin and Mali have also been approved for local seed production.

The varieties are being incorporated into the regional seed catalogue managed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), allowing wider seed production and trade across the region.

Source: Farmers Review Africa