The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has entered into a partnership drive with the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) on six priority crops maize, rice, cowpeas, cassava, millet, and oil palm across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria in the effort to enhance food production in Nigeria.
This partnership took place at a two-day workshop on Enhancing Seed Systems for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Nigeria, organised by NADF and NASC.
The Minister of State Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, while speaking at the Workshop, emphasised the urgent need to integrate modern seed technology to counter the existential threats posed by climate change on Nigeria’s food systems.
“We are witnessing the clear and present existential threats of climate change and its impact on our local food systems. It is evident that climate change is real, and it has therefore become inevitable to integrate modern seed technology to ensure sustainability and food security”, the Minister said.
Highlighting the critical role of innovation and collaboration in shaping the future of Nigeria’s seed sector, the Minister tied the initiative to the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This gathering speaks to the critical role that innovation and collaboration play in the future of our seed sector in the face of our present challenges as a nation,” he said.
The Minister also outlined the hurdles Nigeria faces in transforming its seed system, including poor distribution channels, inadequate infrastructure, and widespread mistrust in the quality and health impacts of improved seeds.
While commending NADF for its leadership in addressing these issues, Senator Abdullahi said “National Agricultural Development Fund is commended for taking the bull by the horns in addressing critical issues hampering our agricultural development.”
The Executive Secretary, National Agricultural Development Fund, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, said the six priority crops which are staples in different geopolitical zones in Nigeria, are crucial for achieving food security in the country.
“Through the Seed Systems Enhancement Programme, we aim to provide financial support to drive this transformation. This includes funding for agricultural research institutes to develop and scale breeder seeds for priority crops”, Ibrahim said.
He further reinstated the commitment of the Fund on its comprehensive efforts to enhance Nigeria’s seed system with focus on six priority crops maize, rice, cowpeas, cassava, millet, and oil palm across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
The NADF boss further underscored the Fund’s focus on financial support to agricultural research institutes and seed companies to develop, scale, and distribute improved seed varieties.
The Acting Director-General of NASC, Dr. Ishiak Khalid, while emphasizing the private sector’s pivotal role, lauded the government’s commitment to enacting policies that strengthen the seed sector.
“As the private sector, we need to be more organized to give life to the beautiful policies and shun any kind of circumvention that may collapse the system,” he said.
The workshop ended with a collective call for action with Stakeholders emphasizing the need for robust stakeholder collaboration.
Participants commended NADF for its proactive steps and pledged to support a transformative agenda that ensures sustainable agriculture and food security for Nigeria while advocating for a coordinated approach to drive innovation, improve farmer access, and rebuild trust in the seed system.
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