The National Seed Trade Association of Ghana (NASTAG) with other state and private partners has embarked on an aggressive campaign to increase smallholder farmers’ productivity, incomes and food and nutrition security in Ghana.
The initiative, “Strengthening the Ghana Seed System to Enhance Quality Seed Delivery” is a 24- month project under the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa’s (AGRA) Ghana Inclusive Agricultural Transformation Programme (GIAT) with funding support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project aims to deliver high quality certified seeds of hybrid maize, cowpea, groundnut and soybean to three hundred thousand (300,000) smallholder farmers in the northern parts of Ghana to boost their productivity. Six (6) seed companies are part of the collaborative effort; making up the certified seed consortium with NASTAG as the lead grantee.
As part of the project intervention, NASTAG together with the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (PPRSD – MoFA) with funding support from EUGAP Market Oriented Agriculture Programme and in collaboration with African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) held three Municipal / District level input fairs in; Yagaba in the Mamprugu - Moagduri district and its environs, Tumu in the Sissala East District and its environs and, Wa in the Wa Municipal and its environs on April 13, 16, and 21, 2021 respectively.
The event dubbed “District Level 2021 Seed and Inputs fairs” brought together about four hundred and fifty (450) seed and agri-inputs sector actors across the agricultural value chain. They interacted amongst themselves and exchanged cash for improved seeds and other crop protection products. The actors further concluded deals for improved seeds and other crop protection products, exchanged information and ideas on critical needs for the upcoming season including certified seed requirement, usage and right agronomic practices.
A large-scale female maize farmer, Ms. Mariam Tendie at the Tumu event, expressed her disappointment at not having access to all the hybrid seeds she planned purchasing at the event but was quick to add that, she had placed an order with one of the exhibitors and was optimistic of getting her hybrid maize seed next week, ready for the season. The event helped her to establish further linkages.
The Upper West Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Sasu Yeboah delivering the keynote address at the Wa event, applauded the organizers of the event for the bold initiative to decentralize this critical fair to the benefit of the farmers. “Moving forward, it is our anticipation that this event will be continued and sustained as a seasonal event where all relevant value chain actors will meet and interact with our primary partner – the farmers; meeting them at their doorsteps with the appropriate seeds, other inputs, and new technologies”, he added.
The Northern Sector Representative on the Executive Council of NASTAG and the 2020 National Best Farmer runner up - Alhaji Antika Abdulai represented the Acting President of the Association at the Opening Ceremony and also took the opportunity together with other NASTAG members to exhibit their respective company’s seeds and other inputs which were highly patronized in the Upper West region.
NASTAG humbly calls on all relevant seed sector stakeholders to join forces as we strive to sustain this growing vibrant seed sector to ensure food and nutrition security in our great nation.
