Accra, Ghana//-The National Seed Trade Association of Ghana (NaSTAG) has urged the government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), to urgently off-take a significant portion of the unsold and high-quality seed stocks from certified seed producers in the country.
This stock, according to the certified seed producers, could be channelled directly to farmers under the Government’s Feed Ghana Programme as part of its input distribution component.
Such a move, NaSTAG explained in a press release issued and signed by its National President, Mubarak Seidu Abdulai, ensures farmers have access to certified, viable seed for the next season, and strengthens the linkage between public procurement and domestic seed production.
He added that the government should complement this with price support and market linkage programmes for grain farmers to restore confidence in commodity markets and protect future seed demand.
Mr Abdulai also urged the government and the sector ministry to develop a strategic action plan in consultation with NaSTAG, Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), and other value chain actors to prevent the recurrence of these cyclical challenges—including better production forecasting, coordinated procurement scheduling, and a national seed buffer stock mechanism.
“NASTAG remains hopeful that MoFA will act swiftly and strategically. The Association stands ready to provide verified data on available seed stocks, quality assurance protocols, and logistical support to ensure seamless implementation.
We call on the government and MoFA to come to the aid of seed producers, traders, and farmers alike, building a sustainable, resilient seed sector that underpins Ghana’s food security”, he stated.
Strong warning
Furthermore, NASTAG strongly warned that without immediate strategic intervention, the lingering seed stocks and the depressed commodity prices currently facing grain farmers could trigger a severe disruption in this year’s planting and production cycle.
The certified seed traders confirmed that a significant number of certified seed producers across the country are holding unsold stocks from the previous cropping season and this season.
“This situation is threatening their liquidity and their ability to finance new seed production for the coming season. In parallel, farmers are struggling with low farmgate prices and a lack of buyers for their grains, particularly cereals.
This is affecting both seed suppliers and grain growers as it is destabilising the entire agricultural value chain”, they lamented.
Solidarity with PFAG
NaSTAG hereby expressed its full solidarity with the PFAG and the concerns raised in their recent press release regarding the need for government to implement rice import quota system to salvage current losses by farmers.
These losses to farmers have ripple effect on the seed sector and the entire value chain. NASTAG has members with significant volumes of stock of seeds from last season and this season, the President of NaSTAG and his leadership said.
