The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has called on the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to take a leading role in transforming Ghana’s agricultural sector through innovation, research, and improved seed production.
During an engagement with the leadership of CSIR, the Minister raised critical concerns about the country’s overdependence on imported seeds and emphasized the urgent need to develop high-quality seeds locally.
“Why import seeds when we have the expertise and resources at CSIR to develop superior varieties?” Mr. Opoku questioned.
The Minister was presented with several improved seed varieties developed by CSIR, some of which are already in use in other African countries such as The Gambia. He expressed optimism about leveraging local research institutions to boost Ghana’s seed independence.
Mr. Opoku also revealed that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of the Netherlands to fund and construct modern facilities aimed at enhancing seed production in Ghana.
Beyond seed development, the Minister underscored the importance of food processing and value addition as critical tools for boosting farmer incomes and ensuring food security.
He tasked CSIR with developing structured training programs and educational resources for community-based commodity farmer cooperatives. This, he said, would help build a reliable farmer database to guide government interventions and support schemes.
He further announced that the government plans to procure more seeds in the coming year to ensure farmers have access to quality planting materials.
The leadership of CSIR, in response, assured the Minister of their full commitment to supporting the government’s agenda to modernize agriculture. They also advocated for stronger private sector involvement in the seed production value chain, emphasizing the need for sustained investment to meet the increasing demand for improved seeds.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment between the Ministry and CSIR to strengthen collaboration, promote agricultural innovation, and ensure that Ghanaian farmers benefit from modern agricultural technologies.
Source: Adomonline.com
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