Farming season: Quality seeds, panacea for improved crop yield

Nigeria’s agriculture in Africa is still among those with the lowest yield due to low quality and adulterated seeds. This, for years has been the bane of the sector; JOHN OBA reports.

The crucial role seed plays as a major catalyst for rapid yields and transformation of agriculture in any country cannot be over-emphasized. However, with the efforts of the National Agricultural Seeds Council of Nigeria, the sector now wears a good look with the signing of the seed Act year empowering the NSCN, the launch of the National Seed Tracker, introduction  of the turn-key electronic Seed Authentication system, the development of the five-year strategic plan and the up-graded of the central seed testing laboratories to meet international Standards, the sector is now poised to further play its part in driving the agricultural sector.

Yet, the Council is not relenting in its efforts to ensure that Nigerian farmers get the best as the raining season draws near, hence National Seed Retreat organised by the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, on Thursday is part of efforts to diagnose the challenges of the seed system and identifying practical solutions to addressing them  

Quality seed key

Stakeholders at the retreat took time to discuss the root causes of the problems and collectively reach a common ground on which the nation can build the solid future for the country’s agriculture.

Speaking at the retreat, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono, said quality seed is a key towards enhancing Agricultural productivity and ensuring food security, job creation and economic growth in Nigeria.

Addressing the stakeholders, Nanono noted that seed is the carrier of the genetic potential of the crop plant that determines the upper limit of yield and the ultimate productivity of fertilizers, agro-chemicals and other inputs including machineries and farming techniques.

He added that the ministry has the responsibility to provide a conducive policy environment, ensuring the sustenance of a virile National Seeds System and that enables a credible, dynamic, competitive and relevant industry which provides healthy and high-quality planting materials for Nigerian farmers and for export irrespective of their location.

“This is the reason I have called this important meeting for us all to discuss the grey areas that needs to be straightened for seed sector development”.

He stressed that the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) in partnership with all relevant stakeholders is responsible for seed industry development and regulation in the country and has over the years been involved in various activities towards ensuring the development of the nation’s seed sector.

He also pointed out that the overall set of policy principles of the Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP), would concentrate on providing an enabling environment for stakeholders at the federal and state level to play their distinctive roles.  

The Minister also said that the policy would provide a conducive legislative and agricultural knowledge framework, macro-policies, security enhancing physical infrastructure and institutional mechanisms for coordination, access to adequate inputs, finance, information on innovation, agricultural services and markets.

He tasked stakeholders on the need to render services for posterity.

“Your presence here as stakeholders is simple but are service to posterity  because with a growing population expected to reach above 400 million in few years from now we must plan ahead.

“Recognize the importance of this Sub sector to the overall sustenance of national plan through agricultural productivity,” he added.

He therefore challenged the stakeholders to identify, discuss, determine the type of interventions needed (technological, regulatory and others) to make quality seeds available to farmers through sustainable systems and construct roadmap, with specific recommendations, to guide a sound and sustainable dissemination strategy for improved crops to resource poor farmers in Nigeria in particular and West in general.

Focusing on local seeds

Also, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu stated that there is need to focus more on locally made seed because they have been tested and proven in the Seeds sub sector and assured  that the bills before both chambers of the National Assembly would soon be passed into laws.

Earlier, in his submission, the Chairman, House Committee on Agric. Production and Services, Hon. Danduste Muntari said that quality Seed is vital in the process of achieving food sufficiency, job creation and would boost the internally generated revenue in the country. 

Changing the narrative

He lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda in the Agricultural sector which he said would change the narrative on the economy shifting from oil sector to the Agricultural sector. 

In his welcome remarks, the Director General, National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Dr. Philip Olusegun Ojo, informed that “NASC has launched the National Seed Tracker, introduced the turn-key electronic Seed Authentication system, developed a Five (5) year strategic plan and upgraded the central seed testing laboratories to meet international Standards”.

Ojo stated that the agency has commenced effort towards the introduction of legislation for the Protection of New Varieties of Plant (PVP) in Nigeria as well as firming up its membership of international organizations like the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), International Seed Federation (ISF) International Seed Testing Association (ISTA).

According to him, “all in a bid to promote our nations participation in the global trade of seeds and enhance our quality seed delivery capability while encouraging private sector participation in the Seeds Sub sector”.

He advocated for the quick passage of the PVP law to complement the existing Seed Act for the establishment and maintenance of a strong legal protection for seed and plant products and its enforcement so as to deter those who engage in illegal seed practices.


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