The Chairman of the National Seed Council, Alhaji Mumuni Abubakari, has engaged key stakeholders in the North East Region as part of a nationwide tour to assess seed production, distribution and certification.

The engagement was held at the Nii Dentis Hotel in Walewale, the West Mamprusi Municipal capital.

Speaking at the event, Alhaji Abubakari said the Council’s regional tours are aimed at ascertaining “in real time, the status of seed production, distribution and certification activities in each region.”

“Quality seed is a time-sensitive commodity, and for our farmers to succeed, the seed value chain must function like clockwork,” he stated.

He noted that through the tour, the Council is evaluating the capacity of local seed growers, assessing distribution networks, and scrutinising the certification process. This, he said, is crucial to safeguarding national agricultural investments such as the Feed Ghana Programme.

The Chairman stressed the importance of direct engagement with those in the field.

“Policies written in offices can not succeed without the lived experience of those in the field,” he said.

Alhaji Abubakari acknowledged challenges including infrastructure deficits, the need for modern seed processing and cold storage facilities, and the pressures of climate variability.

He, however, highlighted opportunities for growth through private sector participation and digital innovation.

“Yet alongside these challenges lie real opportunities for private sector to grow more resilient, and digital tools such as electronic seed tracking and authentication that can help us weed out fake seed from our markets,” he added.

He concluded by urging the sector to adapt to changing conditions. “Agriculture cannot remain static while our climate and soil profiles change.”

Stakeholders at the Walewale engagement welcomed the Council’s outreach and pledged support for efforts to improve seed quality and availability in the North East Region.

Reporting by Dokurugu Alhassan for Asaase News, North East Region