11% use of improved seeds threat to Ghana’s food security - Minister

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has indicated the use of improved seeds by maize farmers in Ghana poses a serious threat to food security in the country.

Speaking at the 10th Anniversary of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement, Dr Akoto said only 11 percent of maize farmers in Ghana use improved seeds while 85 percent use traditional seeds which reduces their yields.

He added that although Ghana is currently food sufficient, it is not protected from the threat to food security if farmers do not plant improved seeds because government’s planting for food and jobs program, depends heavily on the type of seeds used by farmers.

“The wonderful thing about these statistics is that the traditional seeds gives you something like less than half a ton per hectare, the open pollinated can give you up to 3 tons per hectare, the hybrid can give you 6-7 tons per hectare but what he is telling us can do 9 to 10 tons per hectare that is where government hinges on this whole thing you have been hearing about planting for food and jobs is to try and get improved seeds for most of our farmers so that they can increase their productivity, double, triple their production with same efforts but with improved seeds,” he added.