5th National Seed Business and Networking Forum - SeedLink 2024
Theme: Unlocking Sustainable Financing Opportunities for Agricultural Resilience and a Robust Seed Value Chain in Ghana
The 5th National Seed Business and Networking Forum (SeedLink 2024) brought together more than 100 stakeholders in Tamale, Northern Region, to explore innovative solutions for financing and advancing Ghana’s seed sector. The two-day event emphasized collaboration and actionable strategies to ensure resilience and growth within the seed value chain.
The forum opened with remarks by NASTAG President Dr. Amos Rutherford Azinu, goodwill messages from partners like the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Feed the Future Ghana MSR Activity, and Policy LINK Activity, and a keynote address delivered on behalf of the Honorable Minister of MoFA. The address highlighted the seed sector’s critical role in driving agricultural and economic transformation.
Key Sessions and Discussions
Technical Presentations:
- Overview of Ghana’s Seed Sector: Dr. Shaibu Azumah Baanni (Asdev Consults) provided an analysis of challenges and opportunities in attracting investments to the seed sector.
- Innovative Financing Solutions: Mr. Banle Konlan (GIRSAL) showcased risk mitigation tools, such as credit guarantees and risk-sharing mechanisms, to de-risk financing for seed businesses.
- Agriculture Insurance: Joseph Akanlagm (National Insurance Commission) discussed tailored insurance products to stabilize seed enterprises and reduce financial risks.
Panel Discussions:
- Why Invest in the Seed Sector? Moderated by Abdul Hayi Moomen, this session featured industry experts such as Ms. Mawulawoe Awity (WACCI), Mr. Samuel Bakaweri (BatBak Services Ltd), and Mr. Abukari Abdulai (Heritage Seeds Co. Ltd). It addressed the challenges in the seed sector, the rising demand for quality seed among farmers, and the potential for investment. The panel reassured investors by tackling their concerns regarding the seed value chain.
- Money Is the Heartbeat of Every Business: This session was facilitated by Mr. Raymond Denteh, an experienced Agribusiness and Financial Services Advisor, and included representatives from Stanbic Bank, ABSA, CalBank, and Pangea Africa. The discussion focused on the essential role of finance in agribusiness. The panel emphasized the importance of building investor trust, ensuring financial transparency, and achieving operational efficiency to promote growth. They also shared various financial products and opportunities available within the financial framework that supports the agricultural sector. One notable example is the collaboration between financial institutions and the Mastercard Foundation.
Group Discussions
Participants engaged in solution-driven discussions on Tackling the Big Challenges in Financing and Growth for Seed Businesses. Key focus areas included access to affordable credit, adoption of innovative financing models, and agricultural insurance.
Forum Outcomes
The forum concluded with the adoption of actionable recommendations to enhance the financial and business landscape for seed enterprises:
- The forum encourages collaboration between government, financial institutions, and seed value chain actors to create tailored financial products and risk-sharing mechanisms that support seed businesses.
- Seed companies should enhance financial management and transparency practices within the seed value chain to attract necessary investors.
- The forum called for enhanced collaboration between seed enterprises, financial institutions, and development partners to create an ecosystem of sustainable financing opportunities.
- Scale access to innovative financing models such as crowdfunding, impact investing, and agriculture insurance solutions.
SeedLink 2024 underscored the critical role of finance in fostering a resilient and robust seed sector. The event catalyzed partnerships and outlined a clear path for addressing key challenges to drive sustainable growth and resilience in Ghana’s agriculture.
