The global seed market is one of the fastest growing agricultural market that presents enormous opportunities for countries that have the agricultural capacity to trade in it.
According to analyst, it is expected to reach a value of US$86billion by 2022. The United States, Canada and Asia are amongst countries that have taken the lead in this market.
It is, therefore, gratifying to learn that Ghana has noticed the opportunities available and benefits to be derived from this market and is lacing its boots to position itself well to profit.
“Ghana to produce seedlings for international market – Agric Minister”, that was the headline of one of the stories that was published on the front and inside pages of yesterday’s edition of this paper.
According to Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto the Minister, cashew, coconut, oil palm, rubber, mango and coffee seedlings are amongst the variety of crops targeted under an upcoming initiative dubbed “Planting for Food and Export (PFE)”.
For starters, he disclosed that the initiative would target municipal and district chief executives in all regions to produce at least four or five of the six crop seedlings.
This comes at the back of the production of 9.3 million seedlings in 2018 under the Planting for Food and Jobs programme and a 2019 target of 22 million and even more.
Until this, the country’s seedling export had been primarily Cocoa. With our population growing past 30million, it is pertinent that the country’s agricultural exports were diversified to rake in more income for developmental projects.
We laud the government for this bold initiative which would create jobs but draw the government’s attention to the need to put proactive measures in place to achieve the best result.
To survive in that market, we need quality and viable seedlings. The sector ministry must therefore ensure that seeds from the country are of good quality and meet international standards.
We must leverage on technology available for quality seed production as well as tap into the expertise of countries that are excelling in the venture so we do not record losses.
Our scientists and seeds experts, we believe have been engaged in the planning of the initiative since a scientific venture such as this, requires expertise and carefully thought out modalities.
We do not want a version of the fall army invasion in the first years of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme. The ministry must guard against diseases and post harvest loses.
Agriculture has been touted as the game changer in the development of countries and we, at the Ghanaian Times are delighted that the government continues to come up with initiatives that boost the sector and create jobs.
We look forward to a successful implementation of the Planting for Food and Export initiative and hope that it would boost our agricultural sector and ultimately the economy.
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