Nyankpala: A total of 90 farmers and 30 agricultural extension officers have benefited from a capacity development workshop aimed at boosting the production quality of yam seeds for both commercial and small-scale entrepreneurs. The workshop was conducted under the yam component of the Programme for Seed System Innovation for Vegetatively Propagated Crops in Africa (PROSSIVA).
According to Ghana News Agency, the training, held at Nyankpala near Tamale, was led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI), the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and Sahel Consulting. The initiative aimed to strengthen the yam seed systems within the country.
Participants received training on innovative yam seed production techniques, business management practices, and the importance of seed certification. They were also guided on record-keeping, demand planning, and effective engagement with both formal and informal seed market actors. Professor Morufat Balogun, a geneticist and lead of the yam component of PROSSIVA, emphasized that the initiative was designed to eliminate the challenges farmers encounter in accessing quality planting materials. He stated, "Our vision is to increase farmers' access to quality yam planting materials by fostering stronger collaboration between developers, researchers, and entrepreneurs."
Hajia Hawa Musah, Director of the Northern Regional Department of Agriculture, represented during the event, highlighted the significance of yam production to the country's food and income security. She noted the fluctuations in yam production between 2015 and 2018, with a peak of 2.83 million metric tons in 2018, followed by a decline to 1.5 million metric tons in 2022 due to challenges such as poor farm practices and limited access to clean seed.
The workshop, which convened farmers from the Northern and Savannah Regions, underscored the need for sustained investment in seed systems to enhance productivity, reduce losses, and boost the country's global competitiveness in yam exports.
