Players in seed industry move for establishment of umbrella body

Ejisu (ASHR), Nov.24, GNA - Stakeholders in the seed industry, has passed a resolution for the establishment of National Seed Trade Association of Ghana, an umbrella body to provide a united front for players in the seed value chain.

The Association which would be made up of seed producers and marketers would also include research institutions, seed breeders and seed processors.

The resolution was passed at the end of a two- day consultative forum at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region initiated by the Seed Producers Association of Ghana and the Seed Trade Association of Ghana with the participation of Crop Life, Ghana Agriculture Inputs Dealers Association and representatives of the Development partners of the country with interest in agriculture.

They were funded by the Agricultural Policy Support Project of the USAID.

The forum elected a six- member interim executive of the new association and charged them to register the new association, come out with a constitution and set up a secretariat.

They were also asked to organise a general congress for the ratification of the new constitution and the election of a substantive executives.

The members of the interim executive include, Mr Thomas Havoh, Mr Kwabena Adu Gyemfi, Reverend B. T. S. Amartey, Mr William Kotey, Mr Alex Bokuma and Miss Afia Nyantekyie.

Addressing the participants, Mr Josiah Wobil, an international seed consultant observed that, fragmentations and lack of linkages in the seed sector had led to low demand of certified seed and over dependence of farmers in the country on seed from the informal sector.

He said, seed from the informal sector could not stand the challenges of climate change and could not produce the quality of grains and food crops required by those in the agro-processing industries.

Mr Wobil therefore urged people in the seed sector to come together and with collective efforts expand the demand for seed and produce the quality of seeds that could help support agro- industralisation in the country.

Dr Solomon Gyan Ansah of the West African
Seed Project called on players in the seed sector to come together to take advantage of the many opportunities waiting them in West Africa.

He said, with collective efforts, Ghana could export certified seeds to other countries in West Africa.

Mr Festus Kwame Kwadwokpo of Feed the Future Agricultural Policy Support Project, called on the players in the seed industry in Ghana to develop a collective voice and collective mission to help strengthen the sector.

GNA