By D.I. Laary
Otareso (E/R), Oct. 20, GNA – The National Seed Trade Association of Ghana (NASTAG) has rolled out its inaugural training programme aimed at empowering seed producers nationwide, a groundbreaking locally funded initiative designed to bolster Ghana’s agricultural sector to improve food security.
The training, funded internally by NASTAG, is designed to be private sector-led and would eventually include non-members interested in seed business as well as young entrepreneurs looking to invest in Ghana’s agricultural value chain.
Mr. Clifford Amoah Adangenera, Executive Secretary of the National Seed Trade Association of Ghana (NASTAG), stated in an interview with the Ghana News Agency that the training aims to empower NASTAG members involved in seed production, research, and trading.
He acknowledged the challenges these members face in running their seed businesses and emphasized the importance of this training in building their capacity and ensuring sustainability.
Speaking about the inaugural two-day training held in Otareso, Akuapem North Municipality, Mr. Adangenera described it as a crucial step forward in enhancing the skills of its members and improving their operations.
“We realised that it has been difficult for members to run their businesses purely as seed businesses,” he stated.
The NASTAG self-funded a training programme that selected 10 businesses for a pilot phase, focused on critical areas such as marketing, understanding seed business challenges, global trends, and strategies to attract capital.
Mr. Adangenera noted the importance of enabling local seed growers to navigate an increasingly competitive landscape, saying “As members, we are witnessing global mergers in the seed industry. Our local seed growers must adapt and seek collaboration to remain relevant.”
He added: “Strong seed businesses do not only benefit individual producers but are crucial for ensuring that farmers receive quality seeds, thereby fostering food security and a robust economy.”
He highlighted the global trend of mergers and acquisitions among big seed businesses and encouraged local seed growers to consider partnerships and attracting equity capital to strengthen their presence in the market.
He emphasized that strong seed businesses are crucial for agriculture, food security, and Ghana’s economy, as they provide quality certified seeds for farmers and decrease reliance on foreign seeds.
Among the participants was Mr. Joseph Amartey, Chief Executive Officer of UVEC Farms in Sikaben, who specializes in open-pollinated maize (OPV) production.
He highlighted the impact of the training would have on his business operations, saying “Knowledge is power. The more you learn, the better you can plan and execute your business. Doing business without proper planning is digging your own grave.”
He noted that while production was critical, understanding the market was equally vital, saying, “Once we know where to sell our produce, demand will come. Then we can go into production.”
He urged smaller seed businesses to collaborate instead of operating in isolation, warning that failure to do so could lead to marginalization in an industry increasingly dominated by larger players forming alliances.
Dr. Amos Rutherford Azinu, President of NASTAG, stressed the importance of capacity building, stating that, “We intend to meet regularly—every quarter—to discuss the modern ways of doing business in this evolving global market,” he stated.
He also noted; “Things are changing rapidly. We must constantly update ourselves to remain competitive,” he urged, emphasising that the training aligned NASTAG’s mission to elevate Ghana’s seed value chain through collaboration and advocacy.
Mr. Andrew Nii Adjetey, Treasurer of NASTAG, reinforced the focus of the training on seed business management, highlighting critical components like bookkeeping and attracting investments.
“We are equipping our members to maintain accurate records and standards, which will be key in attracting potential investors,” he explained.
He pointed out that many members lacked audited accounts due to inadequate record-keeping practices, a gap that NASTAG aims to bridge through training in computerized accounting systems, such as Zoho Books.
“The importance of transitioning to a standardized method of record-keeping cannot be overstated,” he added, indicated that participants would benefit from access to free trials of the accounting software and ongoing support to enable them to modernise their business operations.
The training is expected to help seed producers improve their record keeping and transition to a more standardized and formalized method of record-keeping, which will attract investors by demonstrating reliance on information.
Participants will receive access to free trials of software and one-month free support to prepare them for this transition.
The training was conducted in partnership with Legacy Crop Improvement Centre and Softbound Limited, authorized partners for Zoho in Ghana. The software used is Zoho Books.
The training marked a pivotal milestone in private sector-led development, highlighting the critical role of collaboration, education, and strategic planning for the seed industry’s future.
The NASTAG is a coalition of stakeholders in the seed industry. It was established in February 2016 and aims to enhance the competitiveness of Ghana’s seed value chain through training, collaboration, advocacy, and information sharing.
GNA
