Youth peasant seeds farmers from West Africa have called on authorities to engage the youth to protect and promote peasant farmer seed systems in Africa for sustainable development. 

A representative from the West African Network for farmers and producers [ROPPA], Leila Werem noted that there have been lots of issues regarding peasant seeds promotion hence the need for the youth to be educated on the importance of having their own peasant seeds used and promoted in Africa.

Miss Leila Werem stressed the need to have peasant seeds of any kind in West Africa be used and be promoted because it is the right thing to do and the peasant seeds are natural and better than the duplicate ones being promoted 

“We want our own peasant seeds to be used and promoted because it is the right way to go and it’s natural,” Miss Leila Werem. 

She stated that efforts by the young farmer groups in promoting peasant seeds is yielding positive results but needs urgent attention from authorities across West Africa.

One of the coordinators, Kofi Adjawlo has urged farmers to rather focus on the usage of natural manure like animal feces instead of using fertilizers on their farms.

According to Kofi Adjawlo, the usage of chemical fertilizers on crops is becoming dangerous to human health and needs to be seriously looked at by the authorities. 

“It is necessary we adopt the habit of using natural and animal manure instead of fertilizers which is dangerous to our health,” Mr Kofi Adjawlo said. 

Mr Adjawlo noted that the program was aimed at equipping young people with the requisite skills on best farming practices in West Africa.

The workshop was also used to issue some declarations on the rights of peasant farmer seeds system read by one of the female participants.