National Horticultural Seed Roadmap launched to strengthen Ghana’s vegetable seed sector

On March 12, 2024, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, unveiled the National Horticultural Seed Roadmap aimed at bolstering Ghana's vegetable seed industry. The roadmap targets key obstacles within the country's horticultural seed systems and outlines strategic steps to enhance the supply, accessibility, and utilization of high-quality vegetable seeds and seedlings.

Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, presented the roadmap to a gathering in Accra on behalf of the sector Minister. He emphasized that improving access to quality seed is pivotal to agricultural productivity and farmer confidence. For horticulture specifically, stronger seed systems are crucial due to their impact on household nutrition, employment, agro-processing, and the provision of affordable vegetables.

Tomato, onion, pepper, and other indigenous vegetables necessitate seed systems that cater to farmers' requirements and meet consumer and market demands. The roadmap serves as strategic guidance for the next three to five years, building upon a 2024 assessment of Ghana's seed sector, stakeholder consultations, and validation exercises.

Mr. Dumelo stressed that implementing the roadmap requires aligning research with farming realities, such as evaluating crop varieties under local growing conditions. Factors like farmers’ preferences, climate resilience, disease resistance, and market demand should be considered when selecting and developing seed varieties.

He also highlighted the necessity of strengthening Ghana's capacity to develop, test, multiply, and supply seed varieties suited to local conditions. This entails building capacity to create, test, multiply, and distribute quality seed while maintaining productive partnerships with international seed companies and research institutions.

The Deputy Minister tasked the Directorate of Crop Services, alongside the Technical Working Group on Seeds and other partners, to convert the roadmap’s strategic pathways into a prioritized work programme with defined responsibilities, timelines, and financing requirements.

Inge Tenniglo, Agricultural Counsellor at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, emphasized that the roadmap represents a significant step toward fortifying Ghana's horticultural seed sector. She noted that the initiative is an investment in seeds, the broader sector, and the opportunities it could offer to farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and young professionals.

Tenniglo stated that the roadmap provides a strategic framework for enhancing access to quality vegetable seeds and seedlings while promoting evidence-based policy, strategic investment, research, and stronger collaboration among stakeholders.