Ghana government urged to support and boost sorghum seed production

Mr Sumaila Doho, the Chief Executive Officer of Farmer Pride, an agri-business, has appealed to the government to introduce a deliberate policy intervention to support large-scale production and seed development of sorghum, an important cereal.

He said sorghum is one of the country’s under-promoted but economically valuable cereal crops.

According to Mr Doho, “Sorghum is widely produced and consumed both locally and internationally and serves as a key raw material for various industrial purposes.” 

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency during a visit to his farm at Duu, the former Upper West Regional Best Farmer, explained that the crop has several varieties, with the creamy or white types, such as Kapaala, Dorado, and Atokplechi, being the most preferred by industries. 

For this year alone, “I put 100 acres (40ha) for 2025/2026 production season, and the expected yield is projected to be 2.2 tonnes, and these can cover 550 acres (220ha),” he said.

The red varieties, he noted, were in high demand within the local pito industry, particularly among the Dagaabas, Gonja, and some Kassena communities, but that their production had seen a sharp decline in recent years.

He outlined several challenges affecting the sector, including limited access to quality seed, poor grain quality for the brewery industry, and the absence of strong government policies to promote sorghum as a strategic crop.

To help bridge this gap, Farmer Pride had taken the initiative to produce high quality Kapaala sorghum seeds for both smallholder and commercial farmers. 

Mr Doho emphasised that with targeted government support, including incentives and investment in seed development, the country could unlock the full potential of sorghum for food security and industrial use.

“With deliberate effort and government backing, we can transform sorghum into a major industrial crop that supports farmers, create jobs, and contribute significantly to Ghana’s agricultural economy,” he said.

Source: GNA

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