By Kazeem Akolawole
In an effort to fast-track development in the Agricultural sector, the federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has launched the revised national agricultural seed policy 2022 to ensure more access to improved Quality seed, boost food and nutrition security as well as encourage the participation of women and youth in the seed value chain.
The Minister, Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar said that the new policy document was an investment geared toward building a better future for Nigeria’s agriculture sector, as seed was a critical input in enhancing farmer’s productivity and boosting the country’s Gross Domestic Production (GDP).
The minister noted that the enactment of the national agricultural seed act, No 21 of 2019 and the plant variety protection Act, No 5 of 2021 has empowered new responsibilities and widened the scope of operations of the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC).
Abubakar revealed that the present seed policy document represents the concerted efforts of the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) and other stakeholders who had made valuable inputs towards ensuring that farmers have unrestricted access to best genetics to enhance their productivity.
He highlighted some of innovations in the Policy Document to include SEEDCODEX which involves a quality authentication tool and traceability aimed at curbing adulteration and the participation of third-party seed inspectors in the quality assurance process.
Others include the establishment of satellite and private seed testing laboratories and strategic seed banks to act as reserve and buffer stocks in case of food emergencies and encourage the active participation of women and youths in the seed business.
He said: “The Council had also introduced additional innovations and technologies which includes third party certification, Seed Tracker, NASC Seed Information Management Platform (NASIMP), NASC Electronic Survey Tool (NEST), E-Library, Molecular Diagnostics System to ease its functions of delivering quality seeds to the Nigeria’s farming populace.
The policy had enabled the availability of 89,512.10 MT of assorted improved seed varieties for planting by farmers in the 2023 cropping season.”
Speaking further, Abubakar noted that Nigeria was about depositing the instrument of ascensions to the Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) general assembly for the country to take advantage of the international seed trade.
The minister lauded the efforts of development partners, especially the Feed the Future, Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity (NAIA), USAID, AGRA, among others for promoting agribusiness in Nigeria.
The Director General, National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), Dr. Philip Ojo said that the revised policy would invigorate the national seed system, trigger growth and development to consolidate on the gains as well as reforms made in the seed sub sector.
He stated that the policy would enhance federal government efforts at ensuring that Nigeria is not only food secured, but a net exporter of agricultural produce among league of nations, adding that it would further leverage on the advent of technology and innovations in the seed industry.
The Chief, Party and Managing Director, USAID Feed – the – Future Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity, (NAIA), Olumide Ojo, represented by Yvonne Isikuemen said the policy was significant to the seed industry as it underscores the need to strengthen efforts for quality seeds production, address issues of seed fraud and improve healthy seed supply for the benefit of agricultural productivity and food security in Nigeria.
According to him, the review process went through initial data gathering and desk review by an international authority on seed policy, with several stakeholder reviews and validations which culminated in the final approval of the policy in March 2023. saying that the Feed the Future Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity is a five-year USAID-funded programme, which aims to strengthen the enabling environment for agribusiness finance and investment in Nigeria.
He pledged the organization would continue to collaborate and partner within the lifespan of the project that will improve the agribusiness and support critical infrastructural provision in the transformation of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
