Ghana’s path to agricultural self‑sufficiency and resilience against climate shocks depends on a complete transformation of its seed sector, according to Dr. Amos Rutherford Azinu, founder of the Legacy Crop Improvement Centre (LCIC).
In an in-depth briefing shared with the Ghana News Agency, Dr. Azinu described quality seed as “the cornerstone of agricultural self‑sufficiency” and argued that the country’s continued reliance on imports of rice, wheat, sugar, poultry, and vegetable oils stems largely from a fragmented and underfunded seed system.
“Every harvest begins with a seed. Improved seeds—high-yielding, disease-resistant, drought-tolerant and adapted to local conditions—can increase productivity by 20 to 50 percent or more,” he said. “Without them, fertilisers, irrigation, and labour yield diminishing returns.”
Dr. Azinu noted that while research institutions, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and private companies have developed improved varieties of maize, rice, sorghum, cowpea, and soybean, most smallholder farmers still rely on saved or informal seeds of declining genetic quality. Weak distribution networks, concentration of agro-dealers in urban areas, and the prevalence of substandard or counterfeit seeds further limit adoption.
Highlighting the role of the private sector, Dr. Azinu called for large-scale multiplication, processing, packaging, and distribution, supported by tax incentives, affordable credit, and streamlined regulations. He also advocated for digitised traceability tools, including QR codes, mobile apps, and blockchain registries, to eliminate counterfeit seeds and strengthen quality assurance.
Climate resilience is central to his vision. “Early-maturing, drought-tolerant, and flood-resistant varieties are not a luxury; they are an existential imperative,” he stressed, urging faster development of climate-smart crops to protect Ghana’s food supply.
Dr. Azinu also underscored inclusivity, saying women and youth—the backbone of Ghanaian agriculture—must have equal access to improved seeds, credit, and extension services. Female-led community seed banks and agro-dealer networks were among the solutions he proposed.
Economic benefits, he noted, extend beyond farm yields. Improved seeds reduce post-harvest losses, boost rural incomes, and stimulate demand for transport, processing, and storage, while decreasing pressure on foreign exchange. “Every dollar invested in agricultural research, including seed research, yields six to twenty dollars,” he said.
To achieve this transformation, Dr. Azinu recommended a National Seed Sector Development Plan, increased funding for breeding programs, enhanced regulatory enforcement, and stronger regional cooperation through ECOWAS seed harmonisation.
“The seed is small, but the harvest it promises is transformative. Ghana’s food future begins with a seed,” he concluded, urging coordinated action to unlock the full potential of the nation’s agricultural sector.
This perspective frames the seed sector not just as a farming input but as a strategic investment in Ghana’s food security, rural development, and economic resilience.
