A collaborative effort between the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Ministry for Food and Agriculture culminated in the launch of the National Horticultural Seed Roadmap at the Ministry in Accra last week.

The roadmap identifies critical challenges across different seed system configurations and proposes tailored strategic actions. The resulting strategic innovation pathways provide a framework for collaborative actions and investments in the vegetable seed sector of Ghana.

The Deputy Minister, John Dumelo, representing the sector Minister, said the Roadmap was commissioned by the Agriculture Working Group through its Technical Working Group on Seeds and owned by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, represented by the Directorate of Crop Services.

Its development reflects the contributions of government institutions, researchers, seed companies, farmer organisations and development partners, he added.

“Improving access to quality seed is fundamental to agricultural productivity and farmer confidence”.

The Agriculture Minister noted also that for horticulture, the implications extend to household nutrition, employment, agro-processing and the supply of affordable vegetables.

“Tomato, onion, pepper and other indigenous vegetables all deserve seed systems that respond to farmers’ needs and the requirements of consumers and markets”.

Dumelo said the Minister’s foreword makes a clear case for seed sovereignty. “This means building Ghana’s capacity to develop, test, multiply and supply quality seed suited to our conditions, while maintaining productive partnerships with international seed companies and research institutions. Strong domestic capability and international cooperation can reinforce each other”.



The Roadmap provides strategic guidance for the next three to five years. Its central purpose is to increase the availability, accessibility and use of quality vegetable seeds and seedlings of adapted and improved varieties. It builds on the 2024 seed sector assessment, stakeholder consultations and validation.

For the Ministry, implementation must connect research with the realities of production. Varieties should be evaluated under local growing conditions and selected with attention to farmer preferences, climate resilience, disease resistance and market demand, the minister added.

He charged the Directorate of Crop Services, working with the Technical Working Group on Seeds and other partners, to guide the translation of the strategic pathways into a prioritised work programme with clear responsibilities, realistic timelines and identified financing needs.

The private sector has a central role in production, nursery development, distribution and investment.

For her part, the Agricultural Counsellor at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Inge Tenniglo said she was delighted to celebrate this important milestone towards strengthening the country’s horticultural seed sector.

She added that by launching the Horticultural Seed Roadmap, the country is investing not only in seeds but investing in the foundation of a sector. A sector that can create opportunities for farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs and young professionals.

Inge Tenniglo said the roadmap will provide a strategic framework for the next three to five years to improve the availability, accessibility, and use of quality vegetable seeds and seedlings of adapted and improved varieties in Ghana.

It outlines a coordinated approach to strengthening the country's horticultural seed systems through evidence-based policy, strategic investment, research, and enhanced collaboration among government, the private sector, research institutions, development partners, and other key stakeholders.