Ghanaian scientists at the country’s Crop Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have now confirmed an apple tree in the Ashanti region.
Grown in a private home, the tree has fruits just two years of planting by the owner, Edward Akwasi Fosu who lives in Belgium.
Local media reported that Fosu conducted trial for the growth of the tree in the country before finally making this breakthrough.
Fosu had collected soil samples from different regions to germinate apple seeds which took 4 days instead of the normal minimum of 10 days.
He then brought 10 seedlings into Ghana and planted in a house at Atimatim-Taaboum in In 2016.
Local news outlet Joy FM quotes Kwaku Asumadu, a brother of the plant owner as saying that “It started fruiting after two years.”
Plant physiologist and Principal Research Scientist at CSIR-CRI Professor Beloved Mensah Dzomeku also told local media that there is nothing doubtful about the tree.
Dzomeku who studied apple trees in Germany said that “Indeed, it is an apple,” adding that apples can grow well in Ghana if done with scientific support.
Previous joy cut shot
Earlier this month, some other scientists said another tree reported to be apple and bearing fruits in the same Ashanti region of Ghana is rather one of the species of fig tree.
Many Ghanaians on social media had been reveling in the news that the tree planted five years ago was now bearing apple fruits.
The tree was planted five years ago and has just started bearing fruits, according to local media.
Ghana is not known for growing apple and almost all apple fruits sold in the Ghanaian market are imported.
So with the news of an apple tree planted five years ago now bearing fruits, it appeared to be a story that excited many who hoped Ghana could now consider going into mass apple production.
Ghana however is well known for producing cash crops like Cocoa, Mango and Cashew, adding Apple could create more jobs for many.
In Africa the top countries that produce and export apple include, South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Madagascar.
Zimbabwe and Kenya also rank high on the list of countries in Africa that produce apple.
Source: Africafeeds.com
