Agricultural experts have sensitised farmers and consumers on the dangers that sub-standard micronutrient seed varieties pose to the well-being of consumers as well as the level of productivity in the country.
The experts, in their various submissions at the official launch of Micronutrient Standards for Biofortified Provitamin A Maize and Iron Pearl Millet Varieties at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State, stated that conformity with Micronutrient Standards, aside from boosting productivity, would enhance healthy living for consumers.
The research and the launch of Micronutrient Standards for Biofortified Provitamin A Maize and Iron Pearl Millet Varieties were carried out by HarvestPlus Nigeria.
Its Manager, Dr Yusuf Dollah, in a sideline interview at the event, stated that the essence of standard micronutrient seeds is to ensure that the body has the required vitamins needed for its growth.
According to him, “HarvestPlus is saddled with the responsibility of developing stable crop varieties to have high levels of micronutrients and vitamins so that, as we access, grow, and consume the seeds, naturally, we have access to essential micronutrients and vitamins that our bodies require for us to lead a healthy life.
“However, as we promote the varieties, we also want to ensure that what is being released into the system has the required micronutrient level that can make a meaningful health impact on the people.
“We have been having issues around counterfeiting of the seeds, as people are substituting orange-coloured maize, which is Pro Vitamin A, with ordinary yellow maize.
“In order to curb the trend, we ensure that what our farmers plant is really biofortified crop so that, when they consume it, it will make a meaningful health impact on them.
“We need to put standards in place, regulate, as well as ensure that breeders know the level of the micronutrient and that what the Varieties Committee agrees to release into the system in the country meets the minimum standard of micronutrients.”
In his contribution, the Deputy Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Jonathan Alegbe, submitted that Pro Vitamin A Maize would address the issues of food and nutrition security in the country.
He said, “The launch of minimum standards for Pro Vitamin A Maize and Millet in Nigeria is important because the country is not only interested in production but also in increasing productivity.
“The most essential thing is that the event has highlighted the issue of nutrition as well as ways to address hunger in society.
“When you have your food fortified, it means that you are now having more nutritious and safe food available to households, as well as ensuring food security at individual household levels.”
In his submission, the National Coordinator of the Maize Association of Nigeria, Engr Sunday Bamidele, stated that if farmers get it right from the seed, they will make more money because there will be an increase in production.
He added that, without proper sensitisation, farmers would just be doing what they like.
According to him, “With this type of fortified Pro Vitamin A, the farmers will make more money.”
Also, the National Chairman of the National Variety Release Committee, Prof Olusoji Olufajo, said that the launch has brought an end to the different levels being projected as Pro Vitamin A levels.
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