HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT FOR SEED PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION

INTRODUCTION Rice is the second most important staple cereal after maize in Ghana. The steadily increasing per capita consumption of rice is the result of – population growth – rapid urbanization – ease of cooking rice – influx of rice as food aid to disaster areas and – the increasing proportion of rice in the Ghanaian diet. Increase in rice demand has implications for seed, to support local rice production in order to – increase farmers’ income and wellbeing – reduce rice imports and – save scare foreign exchange

JUSTIFICATION Increase in domestic rice production would enable the country to save foreign exchange, increase small- holder employment and incomes Less than 10% of the farmers in the rice sector use certified seeds for production Hence the need to develop human resource in the rice seed system within the remits of the overall human resource capacity along the rice value chain.

OBJECTIVES GENERAL OBJECTIVE To create self-sufficiency in rice seed production leading to increased food security, poverty reduction and employment generation through human resource capacity building SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES To strengthen the capacity of operators in the rice seed system To update the curriculum on rice seed production for agricultural training institutions To promote the use of released improved rice varieties, developed, tested, demonstrated and certified at potential rice growing centres

TARGET GROUPS FOR INTERVENTION The project target groups on the rice seed include: – Breeders – Agronomists – Seed Technologists – Technicians – Seed Inspectors/Certification Officers, – Extension Officers, with role in media relations – Seed Growers – Seed Dealers, Haulers/Transporters

COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT The project will comprise four (4) components as follows: – Capacity Building for Seed Rice Operators – Development and Update of Seed Rice Certification – Promotion of Seed Rice Use – Project Management

Component, Output and Activities. ComponentOutputActivities Capacity building for the seed rice operators Strengthened capacity of about 500 seed rice operators across the value chain in all the three major rice growing zones in the country Train about 500 persons (overseas and local) at various levels, internships on plant breeding and biotechnology, seed technology, agronomy extension, nutrition and communication Organize X workshops and seminars and Y field visits for seed rice operators.

Component, Output and Activities. ComponentOutputActivities Development and Update of Seed Rice Certification Agricultural institutions in the country will be supported to develop and or update their curriculum for the training of all categories of trainees over a two year period. Assess the developed seed rice curriculum. Contract a consultant to update the seed rice curriculum Organize stakeholders consultation and verification before adoption The bulk of the work will be contracted to a consultant whose output will be subjected to wider stakeholder consultation and verification before adoption and implementation.

Component, Output and Activities. ComponentOutputActivities Promotion of Seed Rice UseThe use of improved rice seed pursued to achieve the strategic goal of 30% of rice land by 2018, Identify seed growers and constitute them into groups to produce improved seeds Strengthen the awareness and use of improved seed rice among seed growers, dealers, farmers and the general populace through extension. Organize National Rice Week to herald the general season. Collaborate with the private sector and civil society organization to promote improved rice seed use.

Component, Output and Activities. ComponentOutputActivities Project ManagementProject launch to set up project steering and technical committee respectively and project management unit. Constitute and launch project steering and technical committee respectively, modified to suit the purpose of this project. Establish Project Management Unit at the Directorate of Crop Services Draw up and harmonize annual work plans and budget Facilitate sourcing and disbursement of government and development partners funding. Compile and submit project wide scheduled reports. Organize annual auditing of project funds.

COST AND FINANCING ComponentCost (US$)Source of Funding 1. Capacity building for seed rice operators Donor/GoG 2. Promotion of seed rice useDonor/GoG 3. Development and update of seed rice certification Donor/GoG 4. Project managementDonor/GoG Grand Total

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY Project shall be implemented by the – Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) at the National level. The Regional and District Agricultural Development Units will manage implementation of the project at regional and district levels. Other collaborators like – NGOs, – Universities and other – Private Institutions in the agricultural sector will be brought on board along the implementation of the project. – EPA – MOTI, etc

PROJECT ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT The Ministry of Food and Agriculture shall set up the Project Management Unit (PMU) headed by a Project Coordinator with relevant project support staff. The team shall be responsible for overall management and coordination of the project. The PSC shall provide policy guidance and direction for successful implementation To enhance efficient field operations, – regional and district coordinating units shall be established as a way of effectively managing project operations. – The Technical Committee shall provide oversee project implementation at the regional and district levels and liaise with management on issues that require action for smooth implementation

MONITORING AND EVALUATION As part of the implementation strategy, a monitoring and evaluation unit shall be set up within the PMU. An effective M&E system shall be developed to identify indicators to reflect project output and overall goal of the project.

RISKS AND ASSUMPTIOMS The following are potential risks to project implementation. Availability of quality and adequate of breeder, foundation seeds for multiplication and distribution to the target groups as certified seeds Adequacy of funds for training of breeders and seed technologists to enhance the quality of improved seed that are produced Ability of farmers to access improved seeds, due to distribution problems Ability of farmers to regularly afford improved seeds for cultivation Lack of willingness of target group to accept improved seeds that have been produced Turnover of trained seed personnel along the seed system. Inaccessibility or obsolete of machinery for processing the seeds produced Availability of appropriate seed production machinery equipment and storage facilities