NACGRAB, NIHORT frowns at unregister seeds, stakeholders seek support for vegetation production

The National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) and National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) have both expressed concern on the numerous numbers of unregistered seed varieties in circulation saying they are great vice to the agricultural development just as stakeholders at the seeds submit recently organized at Abuja solicited for more government support for vegetation production in the country.

Dr. Sunday Aladele, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NABRAB in his presentation at the seeds summit pointed the need for all the seeds imported into the country to be duly registered so as to have the data history of all the varieties in NABGRAB adding that his organization had documented all various types of improved seeds in catalogue pointed a seed variety that the country did not have its history and genetic character may be a vice in the development of agriculture.

In her speech also, the Executive Director of NIHORT, Dr. Adenike Olufolaji who was represented by Mrs. Sade Taiwo had solicited for more support to horticultural development in the country as much emphasis have always been for food crops living behind horticulture despite  huge economic potential in the sub sector adding that a policy that will ensure testing of seeds and certification must be put in place to certify seeds being transferred to farmers thereby curbing  any vices it may attract into our agricultural development.

However the stakeholders at the meeting had said NIHORT had not released any improved vegetable variety in the last years saying a policy must be channelled towards enhancement of vegetables production by the ATA of Federal government for the purpose of properly benefiting in the economic potential of the produce and its nutritional advantages to the body.

A woman, member of horticultural society of Nigeria in the meeting had advocated for a special programme for vegetable crop in the country saying this would be necessary for the benefit of our children in terms of health advantages and its ability to assist in the creation of jobs and wealth without using large expanse of land through availability of improved varieties of seeds for farmers.

According to the woman “there is need for the federal government to develop a special programme for vegetable because of its huge potential for the health of our children and economic importance. Sadly we do not have seed programme on vegetables except for onions and tomatoes”

Also, Dr. S.T Yusuf from Federal University Minna, also shared the view of other stakeholders saying that policy of government must give more support to horticultural development like food crops adding that other countries like India and Kenya are already enjoying the economic potentials in horticultural development through proactive policy for the sector adding that NIHORT must be well supported and funded for it to perform effectively. 

Stakeholders jointly agreed that foreign materials are more benefiting in vegetables seeds production than local companies saying NIHORT has not released any vegetable variety but argued this gathering must provide solution on how West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAP) and ATA could effective assist the Institute for the purpose of enhancing the economic potentials in the sub sector into the country to the fullest.