The Wa station of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) has held a workshop on best agricultural practices for seed producers in the Upper West Region.
The Upper West Regional branch of Seed Producers Association of Ghana (SEEDPAG) organized the session in collaboration with the CSIR-SARI in Wa to equip seed producers with the needed skills and knowledge.
It intended to assist the producers adopt best agronomic practices to enable them produce good quality and certified seeds for farmers aimed to boost the country’s agricultural sector.
The training was held under the theme: “Building knowledge of SEEDPAG members to produce certified drought resistant maize and soybean seed varieties” and had financial support from the Skill Development Fund (SDF).
About 50 seed producers from Sissala East and Wa Municipalities, Nandom, Nadowli/Kaleo, Wa East and Sissala West Districts attended the programme.
Dr George Y. Mahama, an Agronomist at the CSIR-SARI, said the development of Ghana’s agriculture depended on the production of good quality seeds for farmers.
He urged the seed producers to adhere to best agronomic practices to enable them to produce quality seeds that are high yielding, resistant to drought and could transform agriculture and fortune of farmers.
The participants were taken through best agronomic practices in cowpea, maize, rice and soybeans production including proper pest and weed control and proper fertilizer application among others.
Alhaji Nuhu Salifu Orison, the Upper West Regional President of SEEDPAG, urged the Association members to see seed production as a business and urged them not to succumb to challenges of the sector.
He said erratic rainfall pattern, adverse weather conditions and high costs of foundation seeds were some of the challenges inhibiting progress of the sector.
The participants commended SEEDPAG, SDF and the CSIR-SARI for taking the initiative to boost their knowledge and skills in seed production.
Madam Moro Hawawu, a seed producer at Sissala West District, called on farmers to resort to improved seeds to scale-up production.
“Rice production in the north, especially Upper West, is going down and farmers have to take rice farming seriously because it is our staple,” she said.