ADOPT NEW TRENDS IN YOUR RESEARCH WORK – DR. DWOMOH CHALLENGES CRIG SCIENTISTS

Date: 27th May 2021

Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Agronomy and Quality Control at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Emmanuel Agyeman Dwomoh has challenged scientists at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) to adopt current research methods to meet up with international research standards, considering modern trends in cocoa production and the rise in consumption globally.

For him, research has become dynamic and it is important that COCOBOD, the regulator of Ghana’s cocoa, coffee and shea sectors, ventures into key research areas to complement the efforts being made increasing and sustain domestic consumption.

Dr. Dwomoh made the call at Koforidua in the Eastern Region during CRIG’s annual review meeting to assess the progress of some projects that the Institute is embarking on within the cocoa sector.

 “Now the world has seen the benefits of cocoa, so if we can get sugar which is not of carbohydrate source but protein, it will go a long way to increase consumption especially among the aged and the world, largely”, he said. Dr Dwomoh mentioned the alternative use of some botanical plants such as “stomatocucus danielii” to substitute sugar in the production of chocolate and other cocoa confectionaries.

Dr. Dwomoh commended the scientists for their extensive research over the years, which has helped sustain Ghana’s cocoa industry.

“I am highly impressed with the extensive and in-depth research undertaken by our scientists and I am convinced we shall work closely to ensure the adoption of the various outcomes”, he added.

The review meeting which is held annually considered various research projects undertaken within the 2020/2021 cocoa crop year under six thrusts. These include Soil and Management, Crop Improvement, Insect and Pest Management, Plant Disease Management and the System Assessment and Analysis thrusts to oversee the component within the research areas.

The review was done by CRIG scientists and other researchers from various disciplines across the country. Present at the meeting was the Acting Executive Director of CRIG, Dr. Francis Padi and other management staff of the Institute.