FG Increases Surveillance To Check Adulterated Seeds

THE National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), in collaboration with the Nigerian Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, has embarked on seed surveillance to ‎rid the market of poor quality seeds.

This is as a consequence of the increasing menace of seed merchants involved in the unwholesome practices.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arch. Sunny Echono, said at the 2015 Farmers field day, organised by the National Agriculture and Seed Council, that the security agencies have mounted seed surveillance in some parts of the country especially in Kaduna, Zaria, Gusau and Ibadan due to the volume of seed trade in these cities.

He said that during the exercise, large quantity of seeds that were not properly packaged and with no label and certification tags, attached or displayed in the open containers will be confiscated.

“The seed council has the statutory responsibility of enforcing the provisions of the seed law as it relates to selling of fake and adulterated seed,” he said.