FG calls for prioritization of quality seeds

…NASC Warns dealers against fake seeds, committed to global best practices
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe, has encouraged farmers and investors intending to go into agribusiness to prioritize quality seeds and verify authenticity from Nigeria Agriculture Seeds Council (NASC) before planting adding that, “good result cannot be achieved at the end of the day without quality seed”.

Ogbe, represented by the director, Plantation Program in the Ministry, Quadiri Olalekan, stated this on Wednesday during the road march for improved seed adoption in Abuja, however warned fake seed dealers to desist from the business or risk jail term.

To make quality seeds available to farmers in laying good foundation for diversification of the economy through agriculture, NASC restated its commitment to encourage global best practices.

Director General of the NASC, Dr Philip Ojo, revealed during the road march that Improved Seed Adoption is to create awareness of the benefits of the use of quality improved seed and enhance its adoption by farmers saying that the council is saddled with the overall responsibility of coordinating and regulating the Nigerian seed industry.

The director who described those marketing adulterated seeds as economic saboteurs, urged farmers to always verify authenticity of seeds from the right channel before planting.

Dr. Ojo stated that the council which has a national vision to build a market-driven seed industry responsible for the production, distribution and marketing of adequate quantities of quality seeds planting materials that are both accessible and affordable to all farmers, is ready to apply the full weight of the law on fake dealers in the seed business space.

He said: “The mission of NASC is to transform the Nigerian seed industry into a foreign exchange earner, key employer of labor and wealth creation.

“March for Improved Seed Adoption a pre-event activity to the 2018 National Seed Fair and Farmer’s Field Day aimed at creating awareness for enhanced adoption and use of improved seed to increase demand and drive production of adequate quantities of improved seeds that are accessible and affordable.

“The Road March for Improved Seed Adoption is the first of its kind in the history of the Nigerian seed industry. We are hoping that this Road March shall be replicated in the six geopolitical zones of the federation to cascade awareness creation to the grassroots to reach the rural farmers”.