A four-day advocacy workshop organised by the Seed Producers Association of Ghana (SEEDPAG), for the development of a legislative instrument and policy guideline on the Seed Law, opened at Nsawam on Monday.

The workshop is being attended by 30 participants made up of the various regional executives of SEEDPAG across the country, some officials of Peasant Farming Association of Ghana, WIENCO, a seed and agro-chemical importing company, and Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Division of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).

The workshop is sponsored by the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) FUND and is aimed at promoting private sector participation in policy formulation and review of policies for a favourable business environment for the seed industry.

The workshop would also help SEEDPAG to develop a framework to use for business advocacy.

Speaking at the function, a resource person, Mr Kofi B. Kukubord, said a strong private sector had been widely recognized as a key to national economic development, growth and a vehicle for poverty alleviation.

Mr Thomas Havor, the General Secretary of SEEDPAG, called on member units both at regional and national level to address issues in the seed industry with one voice.

He said the workshop is the first step towards rejuvenating the Association and said more programmes would be organised soon.**