... Nigeria Requires 312,555.69MT of Seeds to Achieve 31 million Metric Tons of Grains in 2024
Stakeholders in the Agricultural Sector have called for immediate prioritization of certification of available planting material for some food security crops as Nigeria requires 312,555.69MT of Seeds for immediate production of 31 million metric tons of grains in 2024 towards achieving food sufficiency and global food security.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari made the call on Tuesday, 17th April, 2024 at the Feed-the Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity High-Level Stakeholders' Forum on Seed System Development with the theme "Enhancing Seed Systems Development for Improved Food Security: A Paradigm of USAID Interventions in Northeast Nigeria" in Abuja.
Kyari who was ably represented by Director, Food and Strategic Reserve, Engr. Dr Haruna Sule said the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security have outlined series of critical pathways to solve the food security challenges. These pathways are streamlined into short term, intermediate and long term actions for a four (4) year plans.
He said, for success to be achieved, factors to be addressed are the seed availability, affordable and adoptable to the climatic conditions with comparative advantage paying particular attention to food security major crops like Rice, Maize, Wheat, cassava and Sorghum in 2024 to be able to achieve this we requires about 312,555.69MT of seeds which is to enable us achieve the required metric tons of grains’’.
Kyari noted that the prioritization of certification of available planting material will be supported by the FMAFS - National Agricultural Growth Scheme and AgroPocket Scheme (NAGS-AP) project to support with quality seeds for rice, wheat, maize and cassava and other inputs at a subsidized rate.
"Importantly there is need for pasture seeds development, fodder and foliage estates that will gradually eliminate farmers and herders’ clashes, creation of gene banks facilities is also a short-term intervention that the administration is pursuing’’.
The minister revealed that for the avoidance of doubt, Food Security, Economic Growth and Job Creation, Poverty Eradication, and inclusivity (Youths and Women) and enabling environment for individuals, groups, and the private sector to participate in governance and economic activities are Presidential Priorities which is the Ministry's core Agenda
"These priority areas are part of the Federal Government initiative and pathway to achieve the commitment of Mr. President “renewed hope agenda” strategic priority deliverables on food security that would guarantee SDG 1, 2, 5 and 12.
"Of great interest is the new science, technology, and innovation (STI) developed by the USAID Feed the Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity implemented by IITA a “Community Based Seed Enterprises Model” that is not only localize but adoptable to the communities climatic and specific condition and above all against the traditional approach of demand driven which have not been effective.
"The NIAA model is market driven and on need based riding on cohesive cooperatives system to create the needed ownership and stewardship to protect the enterprises.
"This model developed and promoted by IITA- NIAA was piloted in the Northeast – Nigeria in the states of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe and Yobe building an ecosystem and end- end market driven seed network through the community based system to produce seed to a network linked farmer groups aggregated within the communities with the LGAs, this by extensions makes the availability and adoptable and specific resilient seed to the ecology of the locations concerns." the minister stressed
The Minister called Research Institutes to emulate the IITA in providing solutions technology and innovations that would solve teething problems in agricultural sectors.
He thanked the Donors, USAID Feed the Future whose generosity made it possible to see such gigantic success and transformation of the agricultural sector.
At the Feed-the Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity High-Level Stakeholders' Forum on Seed System Development, there was presentation of NASC Certificates to some Community Based Seed\Enterprise Cooperatives.
The forum seek to leverage the value-added space provided by US government investment where interested and committed development actors - public, private sector, development practitioners, and international developmentactors alike convene to take actions to promote growth in the seeds development sector while seizing the huge opportunity to influence the agriculture development and food security agenda for the Northeast region. It will also seek to build commitment to connecting interested international investors and development actors with the opportunities and networks on the ground in Nigeria to work around seed system development.
SpyeTV News report that the objectives of these forum is to Showcase and applaud what the USG through IAA is doing in NE Nigeria on seeds system development, and to Provide evidence that could engender leadership commitment (governments, private sector, donor agencies) to support Nigeria's seeds system development.
