Stakeholders brainstorm on the way forward for seed sector

The strategic nature of seed industry to agricultural development in the country has necessitated the brainstorming sessions of experts and stakeholders towards better repositioning of the sub sector through better policy regulation.

In his address the Acting Director-General (DG) of National Agricultural Council (NASC) Dr. Olusegun Ojo, the chief convener of the meeting enumerated some of the progress his organization has recorded towards the agricultural transformation agenda of the federal government through ensuring certified seeds to farmers under the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) saying there is leap in the total quantity of seed used by farmers from 4,260mt in 2011 to 149,800 in 2013 cum more accreditation of private seed companies from 36 to 80.  

Dr. Ojo also identified some of the challenges in the sector as dearth of plant breeders, seed technologists, inadequate seed testing facilities and infrastructure for seed processing, storage and handling, slow development and promotion of hybrid in most crops and lack of Intellectual Property Right (IPR) to encourage private plant breeders to develop and release new varieties were highlighted.

However the way forward were suggested through several papers delivered by different experts from relevant organizations and institutions totaling twenty one (21) technical papers of six (6) Lead papers and 15 technical ones presented at three sessions covering the areas of Seed Policy, Cultivar Development and Maintenance, Quality Seed Production and Marketing/ Distribution to farmers and Financing of the Seed Sub-sector.

 In a final communiqué made available to us after the retreat the stakeholders observed the scarcity of plant breeders and seed technologists in the nation’s seed system thereby suggesting that more recruitment exercise should be conducted to fill this gap with NASC embarking on both formal and informal trainings for all the players in the sector adding that several crops varieties have been released which are not in use

Other challenges observed are non use of the DUS software by many of the Breeders of the research Institutes that will facilitate varietal registration and release coupled ineffectiveness of the licensing agreement between the Research Institutes and the Seed Companies.

The non observance of the harmonized ECOWAS Seed Rules for cross border trade due to certification procedures amongst the ECOWAS states was also identified as challenge militating against the sector with lack of appropriate legislation for intellectual property right/plant protection in agricultural sector.

Both inadequate agro dealer processing facilities and net work marketing distribution were great challenge of the private sector with NASC also lacking sufficient processing machines.

However the following recommendation were made for the repositioning of the sector which includes:

1.      The training and recruitment of more plant breeders and seed technologists should be addressed through Formal and Informal Training. NASC in collaboration with relevant organizations should organize annual vocational training for various categories of personnel in the seed industry.

2.      The publication of crop descriptors/characteristics of prominent varieties (recently released and in use) should be expedited by the NASC.

3.      Released varieties should be adequately maintained while the older varieties which are not in use should be kept as germplasm.

4.      Seed companies should actively interact with releasing institutes to promote and commercialize newly released and better performing varieties.

5.      There should be increased and sustained funding for research and development for the various activities in the seed value chain.

6.      The National Variety Release Committee should ensure that DUS software is made compulsory as a step to be followed before a variety is developed and released.

7.      Need to review the licensing agreement for clarity and ensure trust for the growth of the Seed Industry.

8.      The Governing Board of the National Agricultural Seeds Council should be constituted to strengthen the implementation of the seed policy.

 .      Relevant Legislation for IPR/Plant Variety Protection should be put in place.

 

1.  Seed companies need to develop their own Agro-dealer networks independent of GES in order to reach farmers more directly. Seed companies should be assisted to develop the capacity of the present input dealers thus developing them to network that will sustainably handle seed distribution.

1.  There should be increased synergy between private and public sectors to promote adoption and utilization of improved seeds and hybrids in order to create demand.

1.  The Seed Retreat appreciated the Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for giving approval to the National Agricultural Seeds Council to organize the National Seed Retreat.