By Edward Acquah, GNA
Accra, Oct. 30, GNA – The National Seed Trade Association of Ghana (NaSTAG) has called on the Government to ban or reduce rice and maize imports to protect local farmers and seed companies.
Mr Seidu Abdulai Mubarak, the President of NaSTAG, said heavy imports of the grains were undermining farmers’ incomes, making it difficult for them to purchase locally produced seeds and threatening the sustainability of the domestic seed industry.
He made the call at SeedLink 2026, the seventh Ghana Seed Business Forum, held in Accra on Thursday to mark NaSTAG’s 10th anniversary.
The forum focused on improving agricultural productivity and market systems.
Ghana remains heavily dependent on imported rice, with the country spending an estimated US$320 million to US$500 million annually on rice imports, according to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Maize imports also fluctuate with domestic supply, with the US Department of Agriculture forecasting imports of 200,000 metric tonnes for the 2025/2026 marketing year.
Mr Mubarak said local seed companies produced more than 6,000 metric tonnes of seeds annually, mainly cereals such as rice, maize, soybean and cowpea, but the output remained inadequate and faced competition from imported hybrid seeds.
“When farmers are not able to sell their grains, there is no way they are going to buy seeds,” he said.
The Association also appealed to the government to lift restrictions on soybean exports, which he said had contributed to falling prices and difficulties for farmers in finding buyers.
The NaSTAG also called for subsidies on seeds and fertilisers instead of free distribution, saying the approach would improve access for farmers and reduce production costs.
Alhaji Abubakari Mumuni, Chairman of the National Seed Council and Managing Director of PBC Shea Limited, said the Council had identified indiscipline in the sector, including the sale of seeds as certified without proper quality assurance and the unauthorised multiplication and sale of seeds by some researchers and producers.
He said the Plants and Fertilizer Act, 2010 (Act 803) defined the responsibilities of stakeholders, while the Ghana Seed Inspection Division of the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) was mandated to oversee seed quality assurance.
The Council, he said, was discussing with the National Security apparatus to address the sale of seeds of questionable quality and untraceable imported planting materials, warning that offenders would face the law.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Edward Acquah
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