The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) has disclosed that more than 50 per cent of quality seeds that are being utilized in West Africa are produced in Nigeria adding that Nigeria had received invitations from other West African countries that were interested in studying its seed production system.
Dr Philip Ojo, the Director-General of the Council, made this known in Abuja while addressing journalists on the lineup activities and preparation to mark the 2021 annual SEEDCONNECT Africa Conference and exhibition NASC SEEDCODEX and other methods to ensure quality seed distribution.
NASC SEEDCODEX is an electronic seed authentication tag to provide farmers with quality assurance through tracking, traceability and provision of quality seeds. It was introduced by NASC in 2020 with the support of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
NASC Pledges To Punish Producers of Substandard Seeds
The tag has a scratch-off code attached to the pack of every seed sold in Nigeria alongside the existing tags of the Seed Council, to promote production and delivery of better quality seeds and curb illegal seed practices, including fake seeds, fraudulent labelling and regulatory offences.
Dr Ojo said the conference, led by the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Mohammad Abubakar aimed at promoting the use of improved quality seeds and other agricultural enhancing technology for productivity gains
Agric Minister Harps on Quality Seeds to Increase Crop Yield
“Other countries in West Africa are coming to learn what makes us big in seed production. We have gotten invitations from Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Gambia, Ghana will be coming with its delegation to come and study what we are doing here,” Ojo said.
Minister of Agriculture boasted that Nigeria is the giant of Africa and it will continue to be while urging Nigerians to be ambassadors of the use of good quality improved seeds and imploring farmers not to buy seed without SEED CODEX and that they should help the ministry to police those that are trying to sell adulterated seeds.
