The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) is partnering with the media and other stakeholders in the sector to sensitise farmers on the need to secure quality seeds in order to obtain higher yields, JOHN OBA reports
Farmers challenges on improve seeds The federal government’s efforts to ensure that farmers are provided with quality seeds has been on for some times now but most small scale farmers especially those in the rural areas are yet to embibe the idea of using improved seeds. According to stakeholders, majority of the farmers are unable to diff erential between seeds and grains. Even those that can still are still afraid of ending up with genetically modifi ed seeds (GMOs) instead of improved seeds. Report has that there is a huge gap in the Nigeria Seeds industry due to the long neglect of the sector which presents business opportunity in the industry, as farmers are left with low quality inputs that portend danger to crop production and the country’s food-suffi ciency target. It is not also news that most seeds in the market are imported as seeds companies in the country do not have the capacity to meet local demands while research institutes with the mandated to produce improved varieties of seeds continue to struggle to meet their mandate. This huge gap has also given chance for lots of low quality seeds in the country, this is aside the problem of low level of investments in the industry in spite of the fact that the industry’s potential was estimated to be over N777 billion, while what is locally available is estimated at N252.35 billion, leaving a gap of N525.04 billion. Efforts to bridge gaps According to reports, the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) in order to bridge this gap has come up with several strategies in collaboration with SEEDAN that encourages the production of foundation seeds within the country. The Director General, NASC, Dr. Philip Ojo who was represented by the director in the council, Mr Ishiak Khalid, at the Agricultural Seeds Media Dialogue organized by the Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERLDFID) in collaboration with the council said seed contributes about 60% to the productivity index of any crop as such planting poor quality seeds is a recipe for crop failure no matter the quantity of other inputs hence the need to sensitise stakeholders on the differences between seeds and grains which is regarded as the same by non agricultural inclined stakeholders. He explained that the Nigerian seed industry has evolved over the years with infl ux of numerous private sector and international players who exhibited high Quality seeds: NASC partners media on farmers education Cross section of participants at the workshop Photo: John Oba The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) is partnering with the media and other stakeholders in the sector to sensitise farmers on the need to secure quality seeds in order to obtain higher yields, JOHN OBA reports moral standards in the industry. However, there has been some speck of spirits and adulterated seed within the seed system caused by as few unscrupulous businessmen who are bent on cashing in on the vibrant and lucrative seed markets in the country. “I wish to say that the council is strategically nipping their action in the bud. To ensure effective monitoring of the seed markets, a full fl edged directorate of seed inspection is charged with the duties of sensitisation, surveillance and compliance of seed laws among stakeholders and so far off enders had been prosecuted and adulterated seeds confi scated,” he said. Collaboration Not leaving anything to chance, NASC has instituted a strategic agenda with PERL-DFID which is aimed at strengthening partnership with actors to tackle service delivery blockages in agriculture in the seed and other relevant sub-sector. According to Mr Khalid, PERL-DFID is advocating for small holder farmer to have increased access to quality seeds which is in line with the council’s drive to ensure that access to quality and aff ordable seeds are available to farmers. The agenda which will be in partnership with the media to increase stakeholders awareness of agricultural seeds, triggering discussions on media platforms on role and sources of quality seeds and further help to improve farmers awareness and understanding of differences between seeds and grains, while also enabling farmers to identify seeds and it sources. This will increase visibility of seeds as an agricultural input and increase stakeholders awareness of reforms and challenges in the industry while strengthening the linkages between farmers group and the council. Nigeria seed companies The Communication Officer Seed Entrepreneur Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN), Mr. Adigun Stephen Oludapo, said seed production is capital intensive and with all the difficulties of seeds production, no seed company wants to produce seeds that are not marketable. According to him, Nigeria seed companies are doing very well, and that despite the challenges they have been able to supply most Nigeria farmers with quality seeds and also currently supplying Ghana about 2000 metric tons of seeds even as he noted that the companies are now working to reach the rural areas with quality seeds. Partnership with media Professor Ari Maikano, a consultant and a Senior Lecturer with the Nassarawa State University, said improving farmers’ access to quality seeds requires a holistic approach that sees the media as partner in progress. The Department for International Development (DFID) and the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) has appealed to the media and all stakeholders to get involved in the fight against the sale of adulterated seed. Mrs. Virtuous Igbodika, the Reform Facilitator, PERL-DFID, said that the organization is targeting small holder farmers increased access to and aff ordability of quality seeds. Igbodika urged the media to assist the organization in improving farmers’ knowledge, awareness and understanding of the difference between seeds and grains. Seeds and grains Mr. Okelola Folarin, the Technical Adviser to NASC DG, explained that seeds are plants used for propagation, while grains are final produce of grain crops used for consumption. According to him, seeds can be treated with fungicide and pesticide but grains cannot be treated with chemicals. “Seeds comes under the purview of seeds act, but grains comes under the food act,’’ he said.
