Concerns are mounting over the gradual disappearance of indigenous seed varieties in Ghana, with stakeholders warning that the trend could undermine food security, rural livelihoods, and cultural heritage.
The warning was raised at a media engagement forum on Indigenous Seed Systems and Food Sovereignty held in Bolgatanga, bringing together farmers, traditional authorities, agricultural officials, civil society groups, and representatives from institutions including the Forestry Commission and district assemblies.
Participants said indigenous seeds have long provided resilience against harsh climatic conditions in the Upper East Region, while imported high-yield and genetically modified varieties are increasingly proving less adaptable to local environments.
The forum, organised by the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Organisation, Trax Ghana, and the Beela Project, also aimed to encourage journalists to highlight the importance of agroecology and local seed preservation.
Executive Director of NABOCADO, Dr Joseph Bangu, cautioned that the decline of traditional seed varieties is being driven by increased reliance on commercial seeds and agrochemicals, a shift he said is weakening agrobiodiversity and polluting farmlands and water bodies.
He noted that traditional crops such as early and late millet and guinea corn, once widely cultivated, are now becoming rare in many farming communities.
Dr Bangu further warned that dependence on external seed systems could expose the country to food supply shocks in the event of global disruptions.
Director of the Beela Project, Ms Abena Offeh-Gyimah, called for the establishment of Community Seed Banks to help farmers preserve, store, and access indigenous seeds across seasons without relying heavily on purchased inputs.
She stressed that protecting indigenous seeds is not only an agricultural issue but also a cultural one, as many traditional ceremonies and festivals depend on crops from local seed varieties.
Director of Trax Ghana, Vincent Subbey, urged media practitioners across the Upper East Region to intensify public education on seed conservation and food sovereignty to support sustainable agriculture and protect local farming systems.
