Wa, May 21, GNA - The Seed Producers Association of Ghana has appealed to government to subsidise seeds for farmers as was been done on fertilizers to help increase food production.

The association says it has come to its notice that many farmers did not produce high yielding seeds and had to rely on uncertified seeds for cropping resulting in poor germination and yields. Osofo Patrick Apullah, President of the Association in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Wa said many households, especially those in the three northern regions, in most cases utilised their seeds during the lean season and had to buy seeds from the market for cropping.

"If the subsidy was done, it would discourage farmers from using their own seeds for sowing and take advantage of improved seeds to increase their yields to maximize production." He suggested to government to buy seeds from the association for its Youth in Agriculture Programme. That practice was stifling the businesses of the association and did not encourage private sector participation in agricultural production, he said.

Osofo Apullah who is also the President of the West African Seed Companies Association, said the association had produced 20,000 mini bags of assorted seeds which were stockpiled without market. He therefore called on government to buy the seeds from the association to keep its members in business.