Seed Maize Producers urged to reject foundation seeds without tags

Koforidua, April 23, GNA - The Greater Accra and Eastern Regional Zone Seed Co-ordinator, Mrs Lydia Kwesitsu, on Thursday, advised certified seed maize producers within the zone to reject any foundation maize seed sold to them without the white seed certification tags. She explained that, all foundation seeds produced by the Grains Board, which is the authorized institution to produce that quality of seeds, had to go through the certification process and then be given a white tag stating where the seed was grown, when tested and other qualities.

Mrs Kwesitsu said any foundation seed which did not bear the tag meant that it had not pass through the certification process and could, therefore, not be regarded by the Seed Inspectorate Division. Any seed grower, she cautioned, who plants uncertified seed does so at his or her own risk.

She was reacting to complaints that some foundation seeds supplied to some seed growers in the Afram Plains did not contain the certification tags, at a briefing of members of the Eastern and Greater Accra Seed Growers Association (EGARSGA) in Koforidua, on the achievements and challenges of the Busac Fund project being run by the association.

The project ,which was launched in August last year, was to help promote the use of certified seeds by farmers in the Eastern Region to help increase their yield and earnings and also increase the demand for certified seed maize.

Mrs Kwesitsu warned that her outfit would not certify the produce of any seed maize producer who uses any foundation seed without the white certification tag as required by the regulations of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).

She appealed to the management of the Grains and Legumes Board to stamp their authority against individuals who undermining their mandate by not going through the certification process. The President of EGARSGA, Mr McKeown Frimpong, observed that the BUSAC project had contributed towards the increase in the demand for certified seed maize in the Eastern Region.

He said the challenge facing members was how to increase their productivity to take advantage of the high demand. He appealed to MOFA to support the association to establish a seed processing centre in the region to help reduce post harvest loses and also help members to produce high quality seeds to meet international standards.