Trax Program Support Ghana (TRAX Ghana), in partnership with BELLA Centre for Indigenous Africa Foods (BEELA), an NGO, has organized a Seed Fair in Bolgatanga of the Upper East Region aimed at restoring indigenous Seeds that have gone extinct.
The Indigenous Seed Fair attracted smallholder farmers from the Upper East and North East Regions, including state and non-state actors.
The occasion provided a platform for the few smallholder farmers who still rely on Indigenous seeds for planting to showcase their seeds. It also allowed them to share their experiences, including success stories of increased yields and resilience to climate change, to encourage more farmers to use Indigenous seeds for planting.
The two NGOs are jointly implementing the project “Strengthening Local and Indigenous Food Systems in the Upper East and North East Regions of Ghana.” It aims to conserve biodiversity, preserve community seed systems and seed sovereignty, and promote knowledge sharing and traditions among farmers. The project involves various activities such as capacity building, exchange visits, and the establishment of Indigenous Seeds Banks.
Speaking at the function on Saturday, the project’s Technical Support Officer, Ms. Abena Offei-Gyimah, expressed deep concern about the rapid extinction of most Indigenous seeds in many communities in the Region and other parts of the northern sector.
She explained that research jointly conducted by TRAX Ghana and the BELLA Centre for Indigenous Africa Foods revealed that varieties of most Indigenous seeds, such as early and late millet, sorghum, rice, corn, beans, Bambara beans, and okra, had gotten extinct.
She stated that the majority of smallholder farmers rely on Genetically Modified Seeds, except for a few smallholder farmers who have indigenous seeds and plant them during rainy seasons.
She stated that some smallholder farmers in the communities have been selected as part of the project implementation, and their capacity has been built as lead farmers. Action plans have been drawn to help propagate the need to plant Indigenous seeds.
Ms. Offei-Gyimah added that the project also built the capacity of smallholder farmers to undertake exchange visits, where they exchange and share Indigenous seeds with those who do not have them, in addition to sharing good Indigenous farming practices.
She noted that the project would further build the capacity of smallholder farmers to establish Indigenous Seeds Banks, which would supply seeds to more smallholder farmers in communities for planting.
An official from the Navrongo- Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Organization (NABOCADO), Mr Damian Paaga, indicated that indigenous seeds are not only suitable to the climate change variabilities in the northern parts of the country, but also hold the potential to significantly improve crop resilience and yield.
He added that the natural production of organic manure and its application on indigenous seed planted crops do not bring about health complication issues associated with inorganic fertilizers application on farms. This is one of the many benefits of using indigenous seeds, as they are more resilient to climate change and require less chemical input.
He further stated that farmers who apply chemicals such as weedicides and pesticides on their farms and, as a result, get sick could be curbed when farmers are taught natural ways of controlling weeds and pesticides.
The Director of TRAX Ghana, Mr Vincent Subbey, said TRAX Ghana is a not-for-profit established to promote agroecology and conservation of biodiversity for enhanced food security and sustainable development in northern Ghana.
He stated that over the years his outfit had implemented series of interventions and programmes which had led to the empowerment of the vulnerable. He mentioned that the “Strengthening Local and Indigenous Food Systems in the Upper East Region of Ghana project” jointly being jointly implemented by BEELA Centre for Indigenous African Foods (BEELA) is one such intervention, and it has already started to make a positive impact on the local farming communities.
A float preceded the Seed Fair through the principal streets in the Bolgatanga Municipality to draw public attention to the need to invest in Indigenous seed planting.
