ECOBasic, an organization responsible for production of genetically pure foundation seed in West Africa, has called on stakeholders in agriculture to adopt the use of improved seed to ensure self-sufficient in food production in the country.
The Managing Director of ECO Basic Seeds Company Limited, Brighton Karume made this call when he was addressing a group of farmers in Kaduna, stating that Nigeria’s quest on food security will remain a mirage so long as farmers continue to plant grains as seeds.
ECOBasic Seed Company was established by the Africa Agriculture Technology Fund (AATF), Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN) to produce and supply foundation seed of the highest quality and purity to seed companies in West Africa.
Jubaili Collaborates With ACU Seeds To Improve Farmers Productivity
He pointed out that most farmers consider purchasing seeds from accredited seed companies to be a waste of money, while lamenting that what many farmers plant every year and store for the next planting season is grains with questionable purity and poor germination.
Karume noted that it is important to educate farmers on the differences between seeds and grains, he explained that grains are meant to be used for food without treatments, while seeds are not meant to be eaten but to be planted because they are treated to protect them from diseases and pest attacks.
AFAN Takes a Stand Against Rice Seed Importation
He made it known that ECOBasic was established to bridge a vital gap in the nation’s seed sub-sector, adding that within two years of operation, the company has become one to reckon with in the production of crucial foundation seeds needed by seed companies in the country to produce certified seeds for farmers
“The absence of intermediaries like ECOBasic Seed Company in the Nigerian seed sector is blamed for the proliferation and adulteration of seeds and the existence of fake seeds in the country,” he said.
