Seed Specialist Amos Azinyo has urged the government to prioritize local seed production as part of its agricultural transformation agenda.
His remarks come as Ghana prepares to collaborate with the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) to commercialize seed production and reduce food imports.
Speaking to ABC News GH, Azinyo emphasized the need for self-sufficiency, stating, “We need to domesticate most of the things we need.”
He criticized Ghana’s continued reliance on neighboring countries for seeds despite having the capacity to produce them locally.
Azinyo argued that the government must implement policies that encourage local farmers to take control of the market, ensuring that homegrown solutions drive agricultural development.
He highlighted the importance of bold leadership in reversing the nation’s dependency on imports.
“We need to give attention to local seed production,” he stated, adding that strategic government intervention would lead to increased food security and economic benefits for the country.
His call comes as Ghana aims to cut food imports by 50% and boost agriculture’s contribution to GDP to $50 billion by 2034.