EZULWINI – African nations must prioritize seed sovereignty and build resilient agricultural systems to overcome severe climate and geopolitical pressures, Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture urged.
Speaking on behalf of the Ghanaian government at the African Union Regional Seed Summit, the Deputy Minister for Agriculture John Dumelo emphasized that high-yielding, climate-smart seeds are the non-negotiable foundation of Africa’s long-term food security and economic independence. He urged delegates to view seed systems not merely as routine farming inputs, but as strategic sovereign assets and the essential engine driving rural livelihoods across the continent.
To achieve continental self-reliance, the address outlined three crucial priority areas for immediate action. First, African states must streamline regional regulations and quality assurance frameworks to unlock cross-border trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area. Second, governments need to safeguard farmer-managed seed systems while providing women and youth stewards with direct access to finance, research and technical training. Finally, member states must deepen public sector funding for agricultural research and plant breeding to empower local institutions to develop crop varieties adapted to localized pest threats and shifting climate realities.
Calling for decisive political will and unified solidarity, the address concluded by urging member states to convert the summit’s declaration into a binding pact to empower local farmers, safeguard African biodiversity, and feed the continent from its own soils.
