The Oil Palm Research Institute (OPRI) was established initially as a division under the Crops Research Institute (CRI) in 1964. It gained autonomy from the CRI in 1979 and became a full-fledged institute in 1988. In 1992, OPRI was additionally mandated to carry out research into coconut, particularly, the devastating Cape Saint Paul Wilt Disease.
E. Andoh-Mensah
You are welcome to the website of the Oil Palm Research Institute (OPRI). The platform is designed to meet your information needs about OPRI in particular and its mother organization, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and allied organizations in general. The CSIR vision of using the transforming power of S&T for wealth creation could only be realized through research and commercialization of research output and services. The CSIR-OPRI is poised to play its expected role towards this vision. The institute is mandated to research into oil palm and coconut and has a mission to conduct sustainable and demand-driven research aimed at providing scientific and support for the development of the entire oil palm and coconut industries in Ghana.
The institute is working feverishly towards becoming a centre of excellence for oil palm and coconut research and a major supplier of improved planting materials of oil palm, coconut and relevant technologies in the sub-region. The CSIR strategic plan earmarked for 2020 - 2024 seeks to expand research focus, build capacity in emerging areas, improve on staff capacity development, promote commercialization and product development and enhance visibility of the organization. The passing of the Tree Crops Development Authority Act 1010 of 2019 by Parliament and its assentation by the President of Ghana for the establishment of the Tree Crops Development Authority places a greater responsibility on the CSIR-OPRI in terms of crop productivity and product transformation, training and services, among others.
In line with the CSIR strategic plan and in response to the object and functions of the Tree Crops Development Act, the institute has brought on board a Value Addition Division to focus on value addition research to oil palm and coconut. The new division will target product formulation and development, technology advancement and environmental protection. The CSIR-OPRI has begun other initiatives towards the implementation of the CSIR strategic plan and enhancement of its capacity to meet demands of the Tree Crops Development Authority. It is hoped that the current efforts of the CSIR-OPRI will lead to greater contribution to the socio-economic development of Ghana and also propel the attainment of its vision of becoming the centre of excellence for oil palm and coconut research.