{
  "id": 760621,
  "title": "National Seed Council calls for stronger seed value chain to boost food security",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/national-seed-council-calls-for-stronger-seed-value-chain-to-boost",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-13T11:38:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Joy Business",
    "slug": "joy-business",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/national-seed-council-calls-for-stronger-seed-value-chain-to-boost-food-security/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Seed Council has urged for enhanced cooperation among government regulators, research institutions, private seed companies, and agro-dealers to fortify the seed sector and enhance agricultural productivity in Ghana. Alhaji Mumuni Abubakari, the Council's Chairman, made this appeal during a stakeholder meeting in Walewale, North East Region, as part of the Council's nationwide assessment of seed production, distribution, and certification.\n\nThe Council's visit aimed to evaluate the current state of the seed value chain, identify obstacles, and uncover opportunities that may impact farmers' access to high-quality seeds. Quality seed, being time-sensitive, plays a pivotal role in farmers' success and Ghana's food security objectives.\n\nAlhaji Abubakari emphasized that the Council is examining the capabilities of local seed producers, the efficiency of distribution networks, and the certification process' effectiveness. The sector continues to grapple with infrastructure issues, such as insufficient modern seed processing and cold storage facilities, and the growing influence of climate variability.\n\nHowever, the Council has pinpointed potential opportunities for private-sector investment and the utilization of digital technologies, including electronic seed tracking and authentication, to combat counterfeit seeds in the market. The Council is also working to expedite the launch and multiplication of improved seed varieties developed by research institutions. Despite these advancements, the Council aims to streamline the National Variety Release and Registration Committee's processes and bolster the multiplication pipeline from breeder seed to foundation seed and ultimately certified seed, ensuring farmers' access to high-quality seeds.\n\nGovernment support for the seed sector is evident through free fertiliser and Nkoko nkititi distribution under the Feed Ghana Programme, strategic investment in climate-sensitive borehole irrigation, and the vegetable sector, particularly tomato production. The government is also collaborating with research institutions to develop tomato varieties capable of ensuring a steady supply throughout the year. Additionally, the Council is fortifying seed traceability systems to enable farmers to trace the origin of the seeds they purchase and utilize.\n\nAlhaji Abubakari urged seed producers to adopt sustainable production and management practices. He emphasized the importance of building a resilient seed sector through deliberate partnerships among government regulators, research scientists, private seed companies, and agro-dealers. The Council called on stakeholders to transform this engagement into concrete action rather than mere discussions.",
  "summary": "The National Seed Council has called for stronger collaboration among government regulators, research institutions, private seed companies, and agro-dealers to build a resilient seed sector and improve agricultural productivity in Ghana.",
  "key_points": [
    "National Seed Council urges stronger seed value chain to boost Ghana's food security.",
    "Alhaji Mumuni Abubakari, Council Chairman, calls for enhanced cooperation among stakeholders.",
    "Potential opportunities include digital technologies and private-sector investment."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The National Seed Council's push for a stronger seed value chain signals a shift towards collaborative efforts to boost agricultural productivity and food security in Ghana by addressing infrastructure and distribution gaps.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "National Seed Council calls for stronger seed value chain to boost food security",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/national-seed-council-calls-for-stronger-seed-value-chain-to-boost-766371",
        "published": "2026-08-13T11:38:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}