By D.I. Laary, GNA
Koforidua, Feb. 11, GNA – Ghana’s private seed sector failed to convert major public investments into stronger production capacity under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJs) Phase One, Dr Amos Rutherford Azinu has said.
Dr Azinu, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Legacy Crop Improvement Centre (LCIC), said the government’s support was intended to expand seed production and improve national food security, but the expected transformation did not occur.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Dr Azinu said the government invested GHS 2.8 billion in PFJ’s first phase between 2017 and 2022, to expand access to improved seeds and raise national productivity.
He said the support aimed to establish a competitive seed industry that could bolster food security and lessen reliance on imports.
Dr Azinu said PFJ delivered increased production of some crops, but the seed sector did not experience the expected transformation.
He said many private operators failed to reinvest public support into infrastructure, such as conditioning plants, storage, and quality assurance systems.
He noted that PFJ began in 2017 as a flagship programme, targeting higher yields through fertiliser and seed subsidies.
He indicated that weak governance and limited accountability contributed to the underperformance, insisting that under the programme, some beneficiaries only acquired vehicles and other personal assets, instead of expanding production capacity.
quality seed.
Dr Azinu said the pattern showed gaps in oversight and verification mechanisms, and these shortcomings affected farmers directly, while many smallholders continued to face shortages of high-quality seeds, as distribution delays persisted.
Again, storage and processing remained inadequate in several producing areas and these challenges prevented the country from converting public spending into sustained productivity improvements.
He said claims that the private seed sector lacked government support were inconsistent with PFJ’s scale of investment, arguing that the programme design relied on private firms to match public support with long-term capital investments; this did not materialise in many cases.
Dr Azinu called for a full audit of PFJ seed-related expenditures and supplier performance.
He said such an audit should probe assets acquired, facilities developed, and volumes produced by beneficiary companies, adding that recovery measures could be considered where funds were misapplied.
He recommended stronger controls for future programmes, including milestone-based disbursements, independent verification of seed volumes, infrastructure upgrades, and quality assurance processes, while digital tracking systems were deployed to improve transparency across the seed value chain.
Dr Azinu said LCIC would continue to support reforms through research, early generation seed production, and stakeholder engagement.generation seed production, and stakeholder engagement.
If accountability improved and investments aligned with national production targets, Ghana could still build a resilient seed system, Dr Azinu said.
He noted that independent assessments had shown that PFJ delivered output gains but also faced delays, quality concerns, and efficiency gaps that reduced its overall impact.
Dr Azinu says future agricultural programs should focus on measurable outcomes, including certified seed availability, farmer access, and productivity gains.
He said improvements in these areas would support food security, reduce price volatility, and strengthen rural livelihoods.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo