Members of the Seed Producers Association of Ghana (SEEDPAG) have been advised to pool resources and create demonstration farms and advertise their activities, to promote locally produced seeds.

Mr Sunday Folarin Okelola, seed expert from the West African Seed Program (WASP), who made the call, also advised seed companies and stakeholders to develop strong relationship with seed breeders, to enhance their activities. He was speaking at a two-day training workshop in seed production, marketing and management at Fumesua, near Kumasi.

The event was organized by WASP for small-scale private seed companies, seed producers and members of the Seed Producers Association of Ghana (SEEDPAG).

The workshop aimed at enhancing the capacity of the private sector in the production of better quality foundation and certified seeds, increasing seed supply and improve skills in agro-business and marketing of seeds in the country.

Mr Okelola called on countries in the West African sub-region to harmonize their seed policies and take measures to ensure the sustainability of seed programmes.

Dr Robert Asuboah, of the Grains and Legumes Board in Ghana, said the uniform application of the same quantity of fertilizer for all plants on seed farms was not helping in achieving maximum productivity.

He, therefore, advised seed producers to contact soil scientists to conduct soil test to determine soil fertility levels of seed fields. Dr Asuboah asked them to apply the right quantity of fertilizer on crops to maximize production.

Mr Patrick Apullah, National President of SEEDPAG, appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to promote the sale and distribution of locally produced seeds to help create employment.

He noted that more monies could be saved by using locally produced certified seeds, particularly on government projects.

Mr Apullah said such savings, could be used to support research and the provision of infrastructure to strengthen the local seed industry.

Mr Richard Twumasi-Ankrah, Deputy Director at Crop Services Department, MOFA, advocated a bigger forum for stakeholders in the seed industry to appreciate the role of different players in the sector.

He asked seed dealers to ensure that farmers in the sub-region get good quality seeds to enhance productivity.