Brief History

In 1982, the Department was split into two full departments, the Department of Crop Science and the Department of Soil Science. Since its inception, the Department of Crop Science has made great strides in the development of agriculture and the food industry in Ghana. Currently the Department offers programmes in Crop Production, Horticulture and Post Harvest Science and Technology.

The Department can pride itself in the breeding of crop varieties including pepper (Legon 18), garden eggs (Legon 1), cowpea (Legon prolific) and sweet potato (Freema) which are widely used by farmers in Ghana.

The department is also pioneering the training of farmers within the University environs and nearby regions in the use of soilless media for vegetable production, thereby facilitating stable and all year round production of quality fresh vegetables for use by the growing cosmopolitan urban and peri- urban population. The added benefit of the technology is the provision of regular income sources and sustainable livelihoods for the urban and peri-urban farmers who are mostly migrants and have challenges with land tenure and credit facilities.

Objectives

We have 12 major goals through which we intend to fulfil this mission.  These are:

• Development of crops that have high water-use efficiency (drought-tolerance), are high yielding, early maturing, and high consumer acceptability.
• Development of environmentally compatible strategies for the efficient management of pests and diseases.
• Developing of cropping systems for food and value-added products, which are compatible with environment safeguard.
• Advancement of biotechnological innovations in improved crop development.
• Identification, development and application of advances in science and technology leading to improved production of safe and nutritious food.
• Playing a strong and key advocacy role in technology transfer to agriculture and the food industry.
• Training of competent and highly motivated graduates of  careers in agriculture, food and environmental science, and capable of making significant contributions to the national effort in crop production, and to foster in these graduates life-long habits of leadership, innovation and extension service delivery.
• Development of low-cost, high intensity modified Hydroponics systems for small and urban farm production.
• Continuous review of curricular and developing demand-driver research and extension linkages
• Assisting governments and other Stakeholders in developing agriculture policies that will facilitate and enhance increased agricultural productivity.
• Organisation demand-driven short courses in various aspects of crop production and protection.
• Dissemination of research findings through seminars, workshops and publications.