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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), has vowed to block all leakages leading to the influx of substandard seeds.
NASC Director General, Dr. Ishiak Othman Khalid, stated this at an interactive session with journalists to mark the 50th anniversary of the seed system in Nigeria.
He said the council would enforce mandatory onboarding of all Early Generation Seed (EGS) producing entities operating in the country on the National Seed Tracker, NASC Seedcodex Platform
and Naija SeedConnect Platform.
According to him, the government would enforce strict compliance with the affixation of SeedCodex labels on all traded EGS in the country.
“NASC is directing the immediate and mandatory onboarding of all EGS-producing entities operating in the country on the NASC Technology platforms which included;
The National Seed Tracker, NASC Seedcodex Platform, Naija SeedConnect Platform.
To this end, we will provide training and equip EGS producers with technical and operational skills to ensure their successful onboarding on these portals.
We will also enforce strict compliance with the affixation of our SeedCodex labels on all traded EGS in the country.
With Nigeria now an official member of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties (UPOV), we are set to incentivise plant breeding innovations and attract investment in seed development,”.
To this end, he said NASC will work with National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs), private seed companies, development partners, and international organisations to ensure a sustainable and well-regulated EGS system.
Furthermore, EGS annual data collection survey would be institutionalized, to track progress, evaluate policies, and drive evidence-based planning.
“We are therefore soliciting the cooperation of all EGS entities to support the new reforms, which in our opinion will foster transparency, competitiveness, and accountability among EGS producers.
“We will, going forward, deploy technology to provide real-time Seed Demand Forecasting and Planning, leveraging our enhanced data systems to align seed production with actual farmer demand and agro-ecological priorities,” he added.
