From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has identified poor distribution channels, inadequate infrastructure, and widespread mistrust in the quality and health impacts of improved seeds as key challenges affecting the sector.
This comes as the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) partner on six priority crops: maize, rice, cowpeas, cassava, millet, and oil palm, across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Abdullahi stated this on the second day of a two-day workshop on Enhancing Seed Systems for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Nigeria, organised by NADF and NASC.
The Minister emphasised the urgent need to integrate modern seed technology to counter the existential threats posed by climate change to Nigeria’s food systems.
“We are witnessing the clear and present existential threats of climate change and its impact on our local food systems.
“It is evident that climate change is real, and it has therefore become inevitable to integrate modern seed technology to ensure sustainability and food security.”
Highlighting the critical role of innovation and collaboration in shaping the future of Nigeria’s seed sector, the Minister linked the initiative to the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This gathering speaks to the critical role that innovation and collaboration play in the future of our seed sector in the face of our present challenges as a nation,” he said.
He commended NADF for its leadership in addressing these issues, stating, “The National Agricultural Development Fund is commended for taking the bull by the horns in addressing critical issues hampering our agricultural development.”
NADF Executive Secretary, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, said the six priority crops, being staples in different geopolitical zones of Nigeria, are crucial for achieving food security in the country.
“Through the Seed Systems Enhancement Programme, we aim to provide financial support to drive this transformation. This includes funding for agricultural research institutes to develop and scale breeder seeds for priority crops,” said Abu Ibrahim.
He further reiterated the commitment of the Fund to its comprehensive efforts to enhance Nigeria’s seed system, with a focus on six priority crops: maize, rice, cowpeas, cassava, millet, and oil palm, across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
The NADF boss further underscored the Fund’s focus on providing financial support to agricultural research institutes and seed companies to develop, scale, and distribute improved seed varieties.
The Acting Director-General of NASC, Dr. Ishiak Khalid, while emphasising the private sector’s pivotal role, lauded the government’s commitment to enacting policies that strengthen the seed sector. “As the private sector, we need to be more organised to give life to the beautiful policies and shun any kind of circumvention that may collapse the system.”