How NASC has effectively utilized its mandate through training to enhance ATA of the federal government

The Agricultural Transformation Agenda ATA) of the present administration would not have recorded the quantum achievements within a shortest time of two years without sufficient contribution of quality improved seeds being given to farmers through the electronic wallet of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) at 80-90% subsidy to small scale farmers along the crops value chain.  

Recently, the NASC in its effort to keep its workers abreast of relevant technologies in quality commercial seeds multiplication has been organizing trainings in all the six Geo political zone of the Federation for certification officers, youth corps members (Agric graduates) and internal quality control officers of private accredited seed companies who were taken through basic rudiment of seed field inspection, certification and quality control for quality assurance of seeds to Nigerian farmers thereby mitigating problems of seeds adulteration.

With the improvement in the awareness of the use of high quality improved seeds and the increase in the number of seed companies to over 100 in less than two years to produce a required quantity of certified seeds drive to ATA/GES of this administration, the need for capacitation and strengthening of NASC officials to properly carry out its statutory responsibility of regulating the seed system in the country cannot be over emphasized. 

In his address to the participants in the organized trainings, the NASC Coordinating Director, Dr P. O  Ojo said that the effort of the present Federal Government administration through the ATA/GES has positively changed the face of input supply in the country to more farmers are getting improved seeds through the use of electronic wallet technology thereby checkmating  all the years of corruption perpetrated in the distribution of subsidized inputs in Nigeria.  

The coordinating Director who thanked the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adesina for his support towards ensuring that NASC is been properly positioned to carry out its statutory responsibilities  adding that the reality of increased number of seed companies has necessitated that officials of NASC must be up and doing technically in the discharge of their national responsibility for  ensuring quality seeds circulation by the private seed companies thereby following the policy of government taking agriculture as business but not a developmental program.

Dr Ojo said that “ the use of improved quality and certified seed is very paramount to achieving a hunger free nation through an agricultural sector that drives income growth, accelerates achievement of food and nutritional security, generates employment and transforms Nigeria to a leading player in the global food market since prior to the transformation agenda, only 11% of farmers get subsidized fertilizers distributed by the government but this has changed and is one important improvement that had occurred in the sector with more jobs, wealth and food security  created”

Also in a speech at the south west zone training, the Director of Finance and Administration Chief E.O Omotoso enjoined participants to see the occasion as an opportunity to learn and enhance knowledge in the job of seeds certification and quality control while he advised trainees to desist from any form of quality compromise occasioned by pressures from the seed companies. He also appreciated the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for making funds available for the training of the youth corpers and officials of NASC.  

Some of the topical issues at all the training centres include Protocols for internal quality control during processing, processing and storage, Concept of seed quality and Quality Assurance, Regulatory provisions for seed/planting materials production and marketing, Concepts and procedure for certification, obligation and responsibilities of seed certification officer,

Others are  Agronomic practices in seed production, Seed harvesting, processing, storage and distribution, Filling/ completion of field inspection, registration of growers, seed testing form and documentation for certification purposes and reporting, Demonstration and use of GPS, Procedure and techniques for field inspection and seed sampling, testing technique and reporting.

Speaking on the topic “Protocol for Internal Quality Control during Processing and storage” the NASC Acting Director, Quality Control, Mr. F.J Olonilua explained that the concept is to increase perception on quality assurance for high improved seed availability at farm level adding that the quality assurance is an integrated and structured approach involving all the stakeholders to ensure sale and distribution of quality seeds to farmers.

Mr. Olonilua also added in another paper titled “regulatory provisions for seed/planting materials and concept and procedure for certification “ that over 50% improvement in agricultural productivity  come from the use of quality seed thereby emphasizing on the enforcement of the minimum seed standard with stiff penalty for the violation of the Seed Act stressing that the seed certification officers as matter of ensuring deployment of improved quality seeds must work closely with the supply chain managers in the states so as  to be kept abreast of various redemption centres of the GES for the purpose of effective monitoring.

At the South-South meeting, the Director, Seed Certification, Mr. Bulus Sule enjoined all the seeds certification officers and regional heads to be more responsive to ensuring the deployment of only seed lots that meet the minimum standard to redemption centres adding that punitive measures and appropriate punishment would be taken against erring officers.  

However the comment from some of the participants at the end of the training raised observations of improper and non conducive environment and storage condition where seeds are subjected by some agro dealers thereby called for improvement on seeds storage facilities and training of agro dealers on better handling of inputs. 

The total of 295 officers were trained in the 2014 NYSC training programme, and this comprises of 120 internal quality control officers of private seed companies, 100 youth corpers and 75 seed certification and quality control officers of the NASC.