Experts in the agricultural sector have emphasised the need for the government to increase investments in agricultural research institutes as well as seeds development to achieve food security in the country.
According to them, previous investment in the agricultural sector by the government has not yielded much fruit because emphasis was placed on fertilizer and other farm inputs with little or no efforts to support research institutions to boost production of improved varieties to increase farm yield.
The National President of Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN) Yusuf Kibiya, during a press briefing in Abuja, said with decreasing farm lands, and increasing population, there was a need to support research institutions to develop improved varieties that will produce more yield.
He lamented: “Fertilizer, milling plants get support from the government but nothing for the seed sector, so we are making a case for policy makers to understand that seed must be supported, otherwise we are wasting our time in improving agricultural productivity in Nigeria.”
Kibiya said over the years there have been gaps in seed production, because research institutes are not well supported by the government, which has resulted in low productivity, inability to export our produce.
“Zambia, Botswana export a lot of maize but Nigeria is still importing. There are about 220 million people in the country and we can feed ourselves and agriculture can even drive the economy, but it has to be properly addressed. The lack of quality seeds has been the problem over the years.
“There is a need for policy consistency in funding research institutes because it is from research you can develop high quality seeds. Seed companies multiply varieties released by research institutions but if the quality is compromised, it will affect what we produce and sell to the farmers,” he stated.
Kibiya highlighted the problems of seed production to include poor quality control, inadequate funding for research, capacity of seed companies to ensure production, inspection, processing and standards. Others include marketing, extension service, funding of research institutes.
He also listed challenges facing the agricultural sector to include poor infrastructure, dormant research facilities, lack of education of farmers hindering them from using modern farming methods, lack of proper storage facilities, poor harvest conditions, inconsistent government policies.
To tackle the challenges, the SEEDAN president stressed the need for training of farmers through extension services to develop their skips, adding that there is also a need to provide farmers with modern farm machinery and equipment.
He harped on the need for the upgrade, funding and supervision of research institutes, saying the government should incentivise youths to get involved in agriculture. He added that the government should improve the delivery of seeds, pesticides and fertilisers to farmers.
He also advocated the need for agricultural production to be backed by adequate funding as well as loan facility to be made available at a reasonable interest rate and less cumbersome to obtain, adding that the government must curtail food importation.
Kibiya further stressed the need to provide an alternative farming system aside from the normal rainfall backed system through the provision of improved irrigation infrastructure.
