The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has donated three Toyota Hilux pickup vehicles and 41 desktop computers to the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) in Tamale, Ghana. The presentation took place on March 31st, with the aim of enhancing SARI's agricultural research capabilities in northern Ghana, thereby ensuring smallholder farmers have access to quality seeds and technologies.
SARI is part of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Institute (CSIR), situated in the Tolon District of Ghana's Northern Region. Dr. Stephen Nutsugah, Director of CSIR-SARI, received the donation on behalf of the institute.
United States Ambassador Robert P. Jackson presented the vehicles and equipment on behalf of the U.S. government. "The vehicles will give SARI additional mobility to reach even more communities in the north, and the new equipment will strengthen their ability to conduct quality agricultural research," said Ambassador Jackson during the handover ceremony. He added, "We are fully committed to working with SARI to drive long-term economic growth in the region."
This donation was facilitated by Feed the Future, a U.S. government initiative focused on hunger and food security. Feed the Future aims to enhance agricultural productivity in crops such as maize, rice, and soybeans within Ghana while increasing smallholder farmers' incomes in rural areas. The initiative supports SARI's efforts to introduce impactful technologies like higher-yielding seed varieties to farmers in Northern Ghana.
USAID is a leading U.S. government agency dedicated to ending extreme global poverty and fostering resilient democratic societies worldwide. For over five decades, USAID has supported various initiatives in Ghana aimed at increasing food security, improving healthcare services, expanding educational access, and strengthening local governance structures for all Ghanaians.