National Seed Council inaugurated to improve seed quality

An eight-member National Seed Council has been inaugurated in Accra to oversee the regulation, certification and development of quality seeds in the country.

The council, chaired by Mr Abubakari Mumuni, has Prof. Maxwell Asante Darko, Prof. Solomon Gyan Ansah, Mr Eric Bentsil Quaye, Mr Francis Kwasi Adzalo, Mr Ebenezer Kwabena Asante, Mr Michael Yao Osae and Ms Agnes Kusi as members.

Inaugurating the council yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr John Dumelo, underscored the critical role of quality seeds in transforming the agricultural sector and improving crop yields.

He said the government was implementing measures to strengthen the entire agricultural value chain through interventions such as the distribution of fertilisers, the establishment of farm service centres and support for local seed production.

Mr Dumelo urged members of the council to expedite the processing and certification of seed applications to enable local seed companies to introduce their products onto the market without unnecessary delays.

He noted that Ghana was working towards reducing the importation of seeds while promoting the use of certified, locally developed varieties adapted to the country’s climatic conditions.

The Deputy Minister further stated that, with climate change posing challenges such as drought and emerging crop diseases, the development and certification of resilient seed varieties had become increasingly important for sustainable agricultural growth.

The Chairman of the council, Mr Abubakari Mumuni, said the body would collaborate closely with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to enhance the production of quality seeds for farmers across the country.

He explained that seeds remained a vital component of Ghana’s agricultural development and food security agenda, making it necessary to strengthen systems that guaranteed the availability of certified seeds.

Mr Mumuni said the collaboration with CSIR would focus on the production of foundation seeds, which would subsequently be multiplied into certified seeds for distribution to farmers.

He expressed concern about the infiltration of substandard seeds onto the market, describing the situation as a threat to agricultural productivity.

Mr Mumuni said it had become necessary to work closely with CSIR to obtain foundation seeds and use them to produce certified seeds for the country.

He assured stakeholders that the council would move swiftly to implement its mandate, noting that representatives of CSIR were already members of the council and would facilitate the collaboration.

Mr Mumuni added that the council was already behind schedule and would immediately begin engagements to improve seed quality, enhance certification processes and strengthen the agricultural sector.

By CLIFF EKUFUL

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