National Seed Council raises alarm over unapproved 'condemned maize' seed

The National Seed Council has cautioned farmers and the general public against planting an unapproved maize seed variety locally referred to as "condemned maize," warning that its circulation could pose risks to farmers, crop production and Ghana's regulated seed industry.

The Council said the variety, which is reportedly resistant to some commonly used herbicides, has not undergone the required certification and testing processes to establish its safety, performance and suitability for commercial cultivation.

The Council warned that farmers who plant unapproved seed could face unpredictable yields and other agronomic challenges. It also raised concerns about the possible spread of the variety to approved maize varieties, while stressing that any potential health or environmental risks have not yet been scientifically assessed.

Speaking on Eagle FM 94.1 in Walewale, Chairman of the National Seed Council, Alhaji Abubakari Abdul Mumin, said the emergence and reported circulation of the variety raised serious concerns.

He said the Council would report the matter to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) for further investigation, including efforts to identify the source of the seed and determine how widely it has been distributed.

Alhaji Abubakari urged farmers to plant only certified and approved seeds, stressing that the use of unapproved varieties could undermine Ghana's seed regulatory system and potentially affect food safety and agricultural productivity.

He further cautioned farmers to desist from planting the "condemned maize" until the relevant authorities complete their investigations and provide further guidance.

The Chairman disclosed that the Council became aware of the variety during a familiarization engagement with farmers and other stakeholders in Walewale in the North East Region.

According to him, the engagement formed part of a national exercise aimed at gathering information on the concerns of seed producers, dealers and farmers to help the Council and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture improve the implementation of seed-sector policies.

Farmers Raise Concerns
A maize farmer in Walewale, Mr. Salifu Yakubu, said some seed dealers had marketed the variety to farmers as a high-yielding, weed-resistant maize without informing them that it had not been approved.

He said several farmers had already purchased the seed ahead of the planting season, attracted by claims that its resistance to herbicides would reduce the cost and labour associated with weed control.

"We were told this maize can survive weedicide application without dying, so we would spend less on labour for weeding. Nobody told us it wasn't certified or that it could be dangerous," he said.

Mr Yakubu called on the National Seed Council and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to move quickly to trace the source of the seed and prevent further distribution while investigations are ongoing.

He also appealed to the authorities to determine how many farmers may have already purchased or planted the seed and provide them with clear guidance on what to do.

He urged the Council to intensify education and sensitization in farming communities, particularly in rural areas where farmers often depend on seed dealers for information and may have limited means of independently verifying whether a seed variety is certified.

Call for Investigation and Public Education

The development has also raised questions about how an unapproved seed variety was able to reach farmers and whether seed dealers involved in its distribution were aware of its regulatory status.

Agricultural authorities will now be expected to establish the source of the seed, identify the dealers involved, determine the extent of its distribution and assess its agronomic and environmental implications.

Until such investigations are completed, farmers are being urged to rely on certified seed varieties from recognized sources and to seek guidance from agricultural extension officers or the appropriate regulatory authorities before purchasing unfamiliar seed varieties.

The National Seed Council's warning comes at a critical period for farmers preparing for the planting season, making timely public education and effective monitoring of seed dealers essential to prevent further spread of the unapproved variety.