Trax Ghana and The Beela Project have engaged officials of the Nabdam District Assembly and the Department of Agriculture in the Upper East Region to explore ways of strengthening community seed systems and sustaining the conservation of local and indigenous seeds.
The engagement, held on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, formed part of the Strengthening Local and Indigenous Food Systems in the Upper East and North-East Regions of Ghana project being implemented by the two organisations.
It sought to familiarise agricultural officials and district assembly representatives with ongoing community seed conservation activities in Nabdam and identify opportunities to sustain the initiative.
The engagement began at the Gundoug Community Seed Bank, where the Executive Director of Trax Ghana, Vincent Subbey, welcomed participants.
The Director of The Beela Project, Abena Offeh-Gyimah, provided an overview of the initiative, including a seed security assessment conducted with farmers in Gundoug before the establishment of the community seed bank.
Robert Atiim, Field Coordinator and Technical Support Officer of the Trax Ghana and Beela Project partnership, subsequently took participants through the operations of the seed bank and its role in preserving local and indigenous seed varieties.
During a visit to the seed storage facility, agricultural extension agents, officials of the Nabdam District Department of Agriculture, the Upper East Regional Crop Services Directorate and the District Assembly examined seeds collected and stored by farmers.
The officials provided recommendations on improving storage practices to preserve seed quality and ensure the long-term viability of the indigenous varieties being conserved.
Strengthening community seed production and marketing
The second session focused on community seed production and marketing using the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) approach.
Participants visited a seed production field to observe ongoing activities and assess the model being used to support community-based seed production and marketing.
The visit also provided an opportunity for agricultural officials, assembly representatives, farmers and seed bank committee members to exchange experiences and identify areas requiring improvement.
Discussions centred on strengthening the seed production model, improving market planning and developing strategies to sustain the initiative beyond the current project.
Participants also recommended the registration of group members and the opening of a dedicated bank account to improve financial management, transparency and accountability in the administration of the group’s activities.
Promoting sustainable community seed systems
The engagement brought together representatives of the Upper East Regional Directorate of Agriculture and Crop Services, the Nabdam District Department of Agriculture, the Nabdam District Assembly and agricultural extension agents.
Their participation provided an opportunity to assess existing community-led seed conservation practices and identify practical measures to improve the management and sustainability of local seed systems.
Farmers and seed bank committee members also shared their experiences and contributed to discussions on improving seed conservation, production and marketing.
The engagement highlighted the importance of collaboration between farming communities, agricultural institutions and local government authorities in protecting indigenous seed varieties and strengthening local food systems.
Through the ongoing project, Trax Ghana and The Beela Project are working to strengthen local and indigenous food systems in the Upper East and North-East Regions, with community seed conservation forming a key component of their interventions.
The recommendations from the engagement are expected to guide further discussions and actions aimed at improving the management, effectiveness and long-term sustainability of community seed systems in the Nabdam District.
