The National Seed Trade Association of Ghana (NASTAG) has called for an urgent review of the country’s 2013 Seed Policy to align with modern agricultural technologies and encourage investment in the local seed sector.

Speaking at the 6th Ghana Seed Business Forum in Accra, NASTAG President Mubarak Seidu Abdulai said the policy, which has guided Ghana’s seed industry for over a decade, no longer addresses current challenges and opportunities.

“It has been 12 years since the policy was introduced. We need a holistic review to evaluate what has worked and chart new directions, especially considering climate change and modern biotechnology,” he stated.

The Forum, organised by NASTAG in collaboration with the National Seed Council (NSC), brought together policymakers, seed producers, researchers, and investors to discuss strategies for strengthening the seed value chain and attracting private sector investment.

Mr Abdulai highlighted critical investment gaps in irrigation, seed storage, cold chain systems, and capacity building, which have resulted in low productivity and heavy reliance on imported certified seeds.

“The continuous importation of seeds we can produce locally is costing foreign exchange, creating job losses, and weakening our research and regulatory institutions,” he said.

He added that a strong local seed sector would create jobs for youth and give Ghana more control over what is grown and consumed. NASTAG recommended a temporary ban or higher tariffs on imported seeds, with the revenue reinvested in developing the domestic seed industry.

Professor Michael Osae, Director of the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, noted that researchers have developed several high-yielding and climate-resilient crop varieties that have yet to reach farmers due to limited local seed production capacity.

New varieties of cowpea and soybean developed by the University for Development Studies and the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute, along with fall armyworm-resistant and nutrient-enriched maize and cassava, remain underutilised. 

“Less than 20 per cent of crop varieties developed in Ghana are currently being used,” Prof. Osae said.

He added that expanding private sector investment in the seed industry could bridge the gap between research and commercial production, improving both food security and economic opportunities for farmers.

Source: Ghana Business Day