Dr. Amos Rutherford Azinu, Founder of the Legacy Crop Improvement Centre, has raised concerns about the frailty of Ghana’s seed industry, warning that the country may soon be forced to rely on foreign materials if urgent action is not taken.
Speaking to ABC News Ghana, he indicated that “the government has not done its part in terms of the development of the seed sector,” he stated, highlighting the lack of substantial progress in strengthening the industry.
Dr. Rutherford criticized both the government and private sector for their shortcomings, noting that despite the government’s investment of over GHS2.8 billion in the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative, the seed sector remains underdeveloped.
He expressed doubts about the private sector’s ability to drive the industry forward, describing it as “very weak” and unlikely to achieve meaningful progress without a significant push.
Emphasizing the need to invest in local research and technology, Dr. Rutherford called for a shift in focus toward developing and commercializing indigenous grain varieties.
He stressed that adapting to changing weather conditions requires leveraging the vast array of research available from Ghanaian institutions.
“How come that the private sector and the state have not commercialized the grain varieties to the farmers in a quantity that they need, so we don’t need to depend on foreign foods?” he questioned, urging immediate action to secure the country’s agricultural future.
