Seed growers appeal to government

Koforidua (E/R), April 3, GNA - Mr James McKeown Frimpong, President of the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions Seed Growers Association (EGARSGA), has appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to provide seed inspectors with vehicles and other required logistics, to help them produce good quantity seeds.

He noted with concern that despite the talk for investment in agriculture by governments over the years, simple but necessary facilities and equipment for Agriculture Extension Agents, particularly seed inspectors have not been provided.

Mr McKean Frimpong made the appeal at a dialogue between members of the Association and seed inspectors in Eastern and the Greater Accra Regions in Koforidua on Friday, under a BUSAC project for the promotion and intensification of the use of certified seeds in the Eastern Region.

He said under the current global economic situation, the best way to protect Ghanaians from the threatening world economic situation was to increase food production and that could not be achieved without good quality seeds.

"The seed inspectors need to be motivated to enable them to work and provide the required result," Mr Frimpong said. The Zonal Co-ordinator of Seeds, Mrs Lydia Kwesitsu, said the quality and orientation of a country's agriculture were closely related to the availability and use of good seed. She explained that, seed certification was to give the consumer an assurance of quality, which cannot be readily determine by an examination of the seed itself with the naked eye. 3 April 09