Seed industry forms new association

Stakeholders in the seed industry in Ghana, have passed a resolution for the establishment of a National Seed Trade Association of Ghana (NASTAG).

This Association, which would be made up of seed producers, marketers, research institutions, seed breeders and seed processors, would serve as an umbrella body to provide a united front for all players in the seed value chain.

The resolution was passed at the end of a two days consultative forum at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region initiated by the Seed Producers Association of Ghana (SEEDPAG) and the Seed Trade Association of Ghana (STAG) with the participation of Crop Life, Ghana Agriculture Inputs Dealers Association (GAIDA) and was funded by the Agricultural Policy Support Project of the USAID.

The forum elected a six member interim executive for the new association and charged them to register the new association, come out with a constitution, set up the secretariat of the association and to organize a general congress for the ratification of the new constitution and the election of 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, said fragmentations and lack of linkages in the seed sector had led to low demand of certified seed and the 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.

Dr Soloman Gyan Ansah, an official of the West African Seed Project(WASP), called on all 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.