Players in seed industry form association

An association of value chain players in the seed industry known as “The Seed Trade Association of Ghana (STAG)” has formally been launched to promote the interest of its members.

STAG is an association of limited liability private commercial enterprises registered or incorporated nationally as well as private international companies registered in Ghana.

Their operations include the supply, production, processing, distribution and marketing of improved seeds of assorted cereals, legumes, vegetables, root and tuber varieties.

 At the launch of the association in Accra, the Chairman of STAG, Mr Kwabena Adu-Gyamfi said “the broad aim of the association is to represent the interests of the seed industry in Ghana, both nationally and globally.”

He said the 12 founder members comprised eight recipients of grants and three prospective grantees of the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

Associate members (without voting rights) include non governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in extension services, distribution and marketing of seeds as well as government and the Seed Producers Association of Ghana (SEEDPAG).

Operations of the association

Mr Adu-Gyamfi said STAG owed its existence to the financial, technical and logistical support of a number of key partners, including the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund, the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the USAID-Feed the Future Agricultural Technology Project (FtF-ATTP) which he said had helped to nurture the association into a vibrant entity capable of forging strong partnerships with the public sector to deliver quality seeds to farmers.

The association, which has existed over a year through funding received from the BUSAC Fund, has among other things, arranged for its members to receive training on advocacy, financial management and communication.

In addition, research was conducted to provide the data for the advocacy work and plans to undertake media sensitisation as well as other advocacy activities which are also underway.

Among its other achievements, STAG’s membership of the Africa Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), the continental entity which actively promotes trade in quality seeds and technologies in Africa for the benefit of its members and farmers, has also been approved.

STAG, he also said, had participated in reviewing the seed regulations of Ghana as the association was represented on the National Task Force set-up to amend the draft seed regulations before submission to Parliament for approval and implementation.

“Significantly, the task force also worked to align the country’s seed regulations to that of the ECOWAS Regulations to make them compatible.  Its speedy promulgation of the Seed Regulations is highly anticipated by the association as it will contribute greatly towards the regulations of the seed industry,” he said.

Mr Adu-Gyamfi also added that STAG had put in place an extensive strategic plan and was  seeking support from donor partners such as the USAID-ATTP for the acquisition of technology for its members.