Nigeria’s seed council, PIND move to reform seed system

The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) have agreed on a coordinated action to strengthen seed certification, expand domestic production, unlock financing and improve farmers’ access to quality seeds across the country.

Both bodies reached a pact at a two-day forum themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Seed Potential: Policy Implementation, Investment and Partnerships for Sustainable Access to Quality Seed,” held on November 10 and 11 in Abuja.

The conference, attended by regulators, researchers, seed companies, financial institutions, and other stakeholders, outlined priority actions, responsible institutions, and timelines for addressing challenges across regulation, research commercialisation, financing, distribution, and digital traceability.

Participants acknowledged progress in electronic seed certification, Plant Variety Protection, decentralised quality assurance and community-based seed production.

However, they highlighted high production costs, limited access to finance, inconsistent seed quality, weak last-mile distribution and gaps between research and commercialisation as major constraints to farmers’ access and industry growth.

In remarks delivered on his behalf by NASC’s director of plant protection, Okelola Folarin, the council’s director-general, Fatuhu Muhammed, said the effectiveness of Nigeria’s seed system should be measured by farmers’ ability to obtain reliable seeds at the right time and affordable prices.

“Farmers judge the strength of a seed system by whether they can obtain trusted seed at the right time and at a viable cost.

“The value of this forum is that regulators, researchers, producers, financiers and distributors have moved beyond separate conversations to agree on practical responsibilities and a common direction,” he said.

Mr Muhammed called for increased domestic investment in Nigeria’s seed industry to reduce the country’s dependence on imported seeds.

“It boils down to investment. We need to invest in research and development. These are things we need to do,” he said.

Sam Ogbemi Daibo, executive director of PIND, observed that the forum has shifted deliberations in the sector from repeatedly identifying limitations to assigning responsibilities to address them.

“The real test now is whether the priorities agreed here translate into stronger enterprises, credible markets and dependable access for farmers,” Mr Daibo said.

Similarly, the executive secretary of the Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria, Stephen Oludapo Adigun, called for affordable financing models that accommodate the seasonal nature of seed businesses.

Eniola Fabusoro, country director of IDH Nigeria, stressed the need for capacity development, improved seed handling practices, and stronger partnerships to translate the forum’s recommendations into measurable outcomes.

Partnership to strengthen seed industry

The forum is the first major step under a two-year memorandum of understanding signed by PIND and NASC to deliver on these objectives.

The partnership seeks to combine NASC’s regulatory expertise with PIND’s experience in market systems development to expand access to certified seeds, strengthen local seed enterprises and attract investment, especially in the Niger Delta.

During the forum, participants examined ways to eliminate certification bottlenecks without compromising quality standards and to improve coordination between regulators and seed producers.

Deliberations also included strategies to move breeder and foundation seeds from research institutions into commercial supply through licensing arrangements, technology transfer, and public-private partnerships.

Participants called for stronger collaboration among researchers, breeders, and seed companies to commercialise improved crop varieties, and recommended effective implementation of the National Seed Policy.

Stricter enforcement against counterfeit seeds and improved quality assurance mechanisms were also suggested.

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Moreover, financial institutions and seed enterprises examined funding models suited to the seasonal nature of seed production and distribution, including credit guarantees, insurance and technical support to improve the investment readiness of seed businesses.

Agro-dealers, extension service providers, farmers’ representatives and technology companies also proposed measures to enhance seed affordability, demand planning, access to information and digital traceability.

Organisers said the forum provided a national platform for stakeholders across the seed value chain to agree on coordinated interventions to protect farmers, strengthen credible seed businesses and improve access to quality planting materials.