AGRA supports 9,200 smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana

About 9,200 smallholder farmers, in the northern region are to benefit from an agricultural development project that seeks to ensure that farmers have access to quality improved seeds for farming.

The project called: “Improvement of Small-Scale Farmers’ Access to High Quality Improved Seeds for Higher productivity” is being implemented by Lexbok Investment Limited (LIL), an agri-based firm in Tamale with funding from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tamale on Monday Mr. Alex Bokuma, the Chief Executive Officer of LIL, said the project was designed to address the challenges of inadequate distribution of certified seeds, especially for small-scale farmers in the agricultural production value chain in the region.

He said the company had set up a wide network of distribution channels in Tolon, Kumbungu, Karaga, Yendi, Gushegu, West Mamprusi, East Gonja districts to supply quality seeds to farmers.

Mr Bokuma said as part of the project the company had acquired inbred lines of two hybrid maize varieties called ‘mamaba’ and ‘etubi’ from the Crop Research Institute (CSI), and were currently being multiplied to produce certified seed.

“We have set up a demonstration field of various crops and varieties in 15 communities across the project districts to showcase maize – mamaba and Etubi, Rice-jasmine, and Soybeans Quarshie and Jengumah among others to increase awareness on the availability and benefits of using improved seeds,” he said.

He lauded AGRA’s many support towards improving the livelihood of farmers and thereby alleviating poverty in the region.

Mr Bokuma, however, appealed to other development partners to also help address the challenge face by seed companies with regards to inaccessibility of foundation seeds.

Source: GNA