In response to rising hunger exacerbated by global challenges, including pandemics, conflicts, and climate change, ActionAid Ghana (AAG) continues its steadfast support for female smallholder farmers.
Collaborating with the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organisational Development (CIKOD) and other stakeholders, AAG promotes agroecology practices and climate adaptation strategies to bolster food security and resilience.
A recent seminar, “Achieving Food Sovereignty: The Role of Indigenous Seed Development in Ghana,” convened diverse stakeholders from Bono, Ahafo, Bono East, Upper East, Upper West, and Northern Regions.
Discussions highlighted the critical need to protect indigenous seeds like late millet, sorghum, and others, which face extinction due to reliance on commercial alternatives.
Indigenous seeds are praised for their resilience to local climates and sustainable agricultural practices, requiring fewer chemical inputs.
Participants emphasized the rights of smallholder women farmers to choose production methods aligned with their cultural heritage and local conditions, stressing the importance of government policies to safeguard indigenous seeds.
Concerns were raised about the recent approvals of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which are seen as threats to biodiversity and food sovereignty.
ActionAid Ghana and its partners issued recommendations urging the government to prioritize indigenous seeds in agricultural policies, enhance farmer seed preservation training, and resist the promotion of GMOs. They emphasized the pivotal role of civil society in advocating for sustainable agriculture and preserving Ghana’s agricultural heritage.
Moving forward, AAG remains committed to fostering a sustainable agricultural system that champions Indigenous seeds and empowers smallholder farmers to achieve food sovereignty and combat hunger effectively.
ActionAid Ghana, affiliated with ActionAid International, promotes social justice, gender equality, and poverty eradication through sustainable agricultural practices and community empowerment initiatives.
