From Okwe Obi, Abuja
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 part of the challenges affecting the sector.
This is even as the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) partned on six priority crops maize, rice, cowpeas, cassava, millet, and oil palm across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
Abdullahi stated this at the second day of a two-day workshop on Enhancing Seed Systems for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Nigeria, organized by NADF and National Agricultural Seed Council NASC.
The Minister emphasized the urgent integration of modern seed technology to counter the existential threats posed by climate change on 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 tied 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 horn in addressing critical issues hampering our agricultural development.”
NADF Executive Secretary, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, said the six priority crops are staples in different geopolitical zones in 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 reinstated the commitment of the Fund on its comprehensive efforts to enhance Nigeria’s seed system with 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 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 emphasizing 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 organized to give life to the beautiful policies and shun any kind of circumvention that may collapse the system.”