A year after being registered at the Registrar General's Department in conformity with the international Seed Industry Trade format, the Seed Trade Association of Ghana (STAG) has been formally launched in Accra.

STAG is an association of limited liability private commercial enterprises registered or incorporated nationally as well as private international companies registered in Ghana, all of whose operations include the supply, production, processing, distribution and marketing of improved seeds of assorted cereals, legumes, vegetables, root and tuber varieties.

Its 12 founding members comprise 8 recipients of grants and 3 prospective grantees of the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Associate members (without voting rights) include NGOs involved in extension services , distribution and marketing of seed as well as Government Seed Producers Association of Ghana (SEEDPAG).

It owes its existence, in the main to the financial, technical and logistical support of a  in number of key partners, namely the BUSAC Fund, the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the USAID-Feed the Future Agricultural Technology Project.

Announcing the launch of the association, Kwabena Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of STAG said, "the broad aim of the association is to represent the interests of the seed industry in Ghana both nationally and globally. 

STAG has drawn up an extensive strategic  plan in that regard and is simultaneously and  actively seeking support from donor partners  for the acquisition of technology for its members.

STAG has also been approved as  a member of the Africa Seed Trade Association, a continental entity which actively promotes trade in quality seed and technologies in Africa for the benefit of its members and farmers.

Josiah Wobil who chaired the ceremony underscored the importance of STAG in enhancing agricultural productivity.

"It falls on all members of STAG to work towards ensuring the productivity and the viability of the seed sector", he said.

Meanwhile STAG has been engaging various stakeholders over the implementation of seed regulations to govern the industry. A National Taskforce has been set up to amend the draft seed regulation which is yet to be submitted to parliament for approval and implementation.