Farmers’ ability to access quality seeds at the community level is receiving a boost through the Partnership for Agricultural Research, Education and Development (PAIRED) project.

The PAIRED project seeks to upscale appropriate seed, fertiliser packages and best farming practices in the major agro-ecologies in West Africa.

This is meant to improve the maize and rice production system in the sub-region. 

PAIRED is a USAID-funded project resulting from a Cooperative Agreement signed between the USAID and CORAF.

The Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-CRI) is the leading implementing institution in Southern Ghana.

“Our focus is on how they can access quality seeds and agro inputs like fertilizers and agrochemicals. We want to pride ourselves with the fact that through PAIRED we have been able to establish a vibrant seed system,” said Dr. Jonas Osei-Adu, project coordinator.

The project is implemented in partnership with the Soil Research Institute, Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the private sector.

The project has been implemented in 12 communities across the Ashanti, Bono and Bono East regions, since the agreement was signed on January 1, 2020.

The CRI is helping to improve the income of farmers by coordinating the project in the southern sector.

“We want to coordinate the project in such a manner that we will be able to deliver our technology to farmers so they will be bumper harvest for maize and availability of quality maize seeds,” said Director of Crops Research Institute, Prof. Brandford Mochiah.