The National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) through support from the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), has boosted the acceptability of Nigeria seeds at the international market as well as enhance access to quality seeds by smallholder farmers.
The Acting Director General of NASC, Dr. Ishiaku Khalid, stated this during a stakeholder review and validation meeting cum socialization of achievements made through the support of AGRA and the Partnership for Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA) towards implementation of NASC Act 2019 and the Plant Variety Protection Act 2021
Dr. Khalid mentioned that AGRA has been playing a role in the food security system in Nigeria and has been supporting the council in the staff training, equipping of their laboratories as well as provision of equipment.
He stated that through AGRA support, the council has been able to reposition their laboratories such that they are able test seeds just like any other countries involve in seed trade, saying this would further increase acceptability of Nigeria seed in any part of the world.
He recalled instances where Nigeria agricultural products are being rejected because of lack of traceability, emphasizing that traceability start from the seed, and if the source of the seed planted are not known people will tend to ask question when given the end product to eat.
The AG Director General stressed the need to reposition the council to bridge the gap so that from seed up to the final product can be traced as the final product will be determined by the quality of seed.
Disclosing that Nigeria has about 500 seed companies, he said NASC has been supporting seed companies that are qualified to establish outlets in the rural communities to ensure farmers have access to qualify seed.
The Country Director, AGRA Dr. Kehinde Makinde, noted that AGRA has been supporting NASC in the implementation of the seed act and to ensure Nigeria has a strong regulatory body
He said the event was to socialize the bridge investment with their partners so as to better prepare them for implementation.
Makinde stressed that farmers needs to have access to good quality seeds so that farmers can get good return on investment, adding that AGRA has been working to keep fake seeds out of the market.
He said: “If we don’t do that, farmers can buy poor quality seeds and expect good quality returns, some of them buy grains and expect huge returns, and that will not happen. That is why we are working to ensure that the quality of seeds in the market are top notch.
The former Managing Director of Kenya Seed stated that Nigeria’s plan to have a quality seed system is a good statement coming from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because all good begin with seed.
He however stressed the need for Nigeria to boost its seed policy, seed law and seed regulation, saying that seed policy is important to provide specific directions for the sector, and that it was important that all the documents don’t contradict one another but work together to have a robust seed sector in Nigeria.
