Coordination of Foundation and Certified Seed Production for RSSP

START DATE: 2010            ESTIMATED DURATION: Six years

SPONSORS: MoFA/AFD & SIC (Under the Rice Sector Support Project (RSSP) & Private seed company

LOCATION: Nyankpala & Golinga

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Wilson Dogbe

PARTICIPATING SCIENTISTS: Samuel Abebrese, Michael Mawunya, Aliyu Siise,

COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS: GGLDB, GSID-MoFA, SEEDPAG NR

OBJECTIVES: To coordinate the production of at least 5 tons of Foundation seed of Gbewaa rice, Nabogo, Katanga and Tox 3107 for the RSSP. To coordinate the production of at least 240mt of certified seed for the RSSP project farmers

METHODOLOGY: A rice seed value chain Stakeholders meeting to review 2014 rice seed production and also plan seed production activities for 2015 will be held. Training of seed producers and backstopping of seed production will be undertaken. Seven hectares of foundation seed of released varieties will be planted in collaboration with GGLDB.

ACTIVITY/PROGRESS MADE SINCE PREVIOUS REPORT

Regional trainings were organized for seed companies and seedPAG members. Trained technicians were linked to seed producers to backstop and provide on the job training of seed companies staff.

Almost 15 hectares foundation seed of all released varieties (Table 2) are being produced at Nyankpala, Bazua, Golinga and Bontanga. Foundation seed production at Bazua, Golinga and Bontanga are being implemented in partnership with partner seed companies (Heritage seed Company, Lexbok seed Company, Rural innovation Consult and Ariku seeds). At Golinga SARI is using out grower farmers to produce foundation seed.

Seed companies, NGO’s, Project’s and farmers ere linked to Foundation and breeder seed sources. 

Field days were organized in partnership with partners to create awareness on the varieties and create demand. 

Facilitated the Inspection of foundation seed plots by the Ghana Seed Inspection unit (GSIU) of MoFA were invited to do inspection of the seed fields.

WAY FORWARD:

Final Field inspection by the GSIU will be done followed by harvesting, processing quality testing and storage.

Table 2.  Foundation Seed plots planted in 2015

Variety	Locations	Area	Responsible Person
Gbewaa	Nyankpala	2.8	Danaa
	Golinga	1.31	Danaa
	Bontanga	2	Lexbok, Heritage and Rural Innovation Consult.
	Sambologo	1	ARIKU
Total		7.11
CSIR-AGRA	Nyankpala	1.58	Danaa
	Golinga	1.80	Danaa
	Bontanga	2	Seedcos
	Sambologo	1	ARIKU Seed Company
Total		6.38
Tox 3107	Nyankpala	0.176	Danaa
Katanga	Nyankpala	0.288	Danaa
Nabogo	Nyankpala	0.28	Danaa
GR 18	Nyankpala	0.27	Danaa
Digang	Nyankpala	0.23	Danaa
Total		1.244
Grand Total		14.73