Some vegetable farmers have renewed calls for stakeholders in Ghana’s agricultural sector to develop a sustainable plan to produce quality seeds locally. According to them, this will help avoid the over-reliance on importation of seeds.

Douglas Agyei, a vegetable farmer at Gyinase in the Ashanti Region said their major production challenge is access to seeds. He indicated that they always have to import these seeds from other countries which at times become scarce. And as such, this negatively affects their activities badly, he added.

Speaking in an interview, he noted that the imported seeds do not normally thrive well in Ghana due to the difference in weather conditions. As a result, neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso, among others who produce their own seeds come out with more attractive ones.

“This affects the competitive advantage and preference for imported products as compared to ones produced in Ghana. We are urging government and all stakeholders to come up with ways of producing seeds in Ghana to reverse the worrying trend.”
Douglas Agyei, Vegetable farmer

The Vice Chairman of Peace and Love Vegetable Growers Association, Emmanuel Sam also pointed the need for research in improved seed production. He indicated that some locally produced seeds by some Ghanaians are inferior.

Call to explore entrepreneurial advantages in the seed sector

In tackling food security and unemployment intricacies, seeds are the critical element to deal with in the agricultural sector.

Dr. Eli Gaveh, Senior lecturer at KNUST, has therefore urged students to explore the entrepreneurial advantages of producing seeds in Ghana to solve the challenge

“We are looking at the tomato industry where Ghana imports roughly 95 million dollars’ worth of tomato annually from Burkina Faso. According to research figures, we also import a lot of vegetable seeds every year. And we are looking at an industry where Ghana can be very competitive in relation to producing its own tomato and other vegetables we consume.

“We can do this and also focus on developing the local vegetable seed industry… We can minimize the amount of money we spend on imports of seeds and also some type of vegetables…”
Dr. Eli Gaveh, Senior lecturer at KNUST

He also underscored the need for the government and policymakers to see the seed sector as a key driver of agriculture.

Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Director of Agriculture, Rev. John Manu outlined some measures government is putting in place to help tackle the issue.

“Vegetable production seed industry has been in the infancy stage…

“Government is supporting the institution especially crop research. We are seriously growing, doing some work in tomato. I know they are doing a very good work in tomato and the idea is to strengthen vegetable production in Ghana. We want to encourage the youth into it,

“As far as the Plant Breeders Bill is passed all the focus should be channeled to support our scientists…”
Rev. John Manu, Ashanti Regional Director of Agriculture