ERNEST ASSAH ASIEDU |
Dear Honorable Minister,
Representative of AGRA, President of SEEDAN, NIRSAL, CBN,
ARCN, NABDA, NBMA, Development Partners, the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen
I bring you greetings from the Executive Director of CORAF/WECARD,
Dr. AbdouTenkuano, the Regional Coordination Units of the West Africa
Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP) West Africa Seed Program (WASP).
We congratulate the Government and the People of Nigeria for
their commitment in the implementation of the
CAADP and ECOWAP over the past years had provided the policy directives, which
has been reiterated by the recent two Malabo declaration of NEPAD-CAADP which
took the challenges in the region into consideration as follows: (i) Commitment
to accelerate Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and
Improved Livelihoods and (ii) Declaration on Nutrition Security for Inclusive
Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa. The first Declaration
seeks among seven others to (i) commit to end hunger, including nutrition by
2025; (ii) commit to half poverty by 2025; (iii) commit to boosting African
Trade in agricultural commodities and services, (iv) commit to enhancing
resilience in livelihoods and production systems to climate variability and
other shocks.
CORAF/WECARD
recognizes the adjustments to the CAADP approaches in sustaining the CAADP
momentum within the next 10 years (2014-2023) and thus responding to the
ECOWAP+10 to increase agricultural productivity and competitiveness in West
Africa. CORAF/WECARD mission is defined as: Sustainable
Improvements to the Productivity, competitiveness and Markets of Agricultural
Systems in West and Central Africa by Meeting the Key Demands of the
Sub-regional Research System as expresses by Target Groups.
Increasing
the use of improved seeds, fertilizer, IPM, soil water management, pre and
post-harvest practices, climate information and market access, are critical in
raising agricultural productivity and production in responding to the CAADP,
ECOWAP and CORAF/WECARD and objectives. The WASP thus, capitalized on the
opportunities provided by these policy environments for the implementation of
the West Africa Seed Program in improving farmer access to quality certified
seeds by addressing key constraints in the seed sector.
In
2015, West Africa supplied a total of 314,500 tons of seeds (rice, maize,
sorghum, millet, cowpea and groundnuts), which was planted on 21% of land
allocated to these crops. Out of the 114,000 tons of rice supplied Nigeria
supplied 90,000 tons (79%) and out of the 108 tons of maize supplied in the
region, Nigeria supplied75,000 (69%). I must commend SEEDAN for excellent job
being done despite challenges faced.
In
2015, Nigeria was among the nine countries that supported
Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea with foundation and certified seeds in the
Post Ebola Agricultural Rehabilitation Programs. Nigeria also supported the
Gambia with certified rice seeds. I must say that this support has contributed
significantly in transforming the agricultural sectors in these countries,
which is deeply appreciated by the respective governments.
In
terms of the implementation of the ECOWAS Seed Regulation, Nigeria is among the
countries that have shown significant advancements and has achieved 92%
implementation. Nigeria has a strong quality control and certification system
under the National Agricultural Seed Counciland plant breeding programs in
churning out quality seeds of new and productive genetic materials.
In
terms of the implementation of the West Africa Agricultural Productivity
Program and the West Africa Seed Program, Niger ranks high as well.
Nigeria
with high capacity in both the public and private sector is imparting in the
region and the country continue to inspire the remaining ECOWAS Member States.
We
believe that Nigeria can do more to help its citizens and beyond if investments
in the seed sector is increased to support human, institutional and
infrastructural capacity development in both the public and the private sectors.
Nigeria could become a Regional Centre of Excellence in the regional seed
sector within the near future to support skill development in Nigeria and in
the region through for coaching of public and private sector personnelfrom
other Member States.
The
workshop will help identify key bottlenecks in the seed sector and also help
find lasting solutions to them and within the spirit of the Alliance for Seed
Industry in West Africa – Nigeria Affiliate help bring partners together in
working in complementarities to create synergies.
I
therefore entreat the Government of Nigeria, the Private Sector, Financial
Institutions and Technical and Financial Partners to step up investments in the
seed sector in pushing agricultural led socio-economic growth in Nigeria and in
West Africa where over 60% of the 322 million inhabitants depend on agriculture
bearing in mind that Nigeria constitute almost half of this population.
I
take this opportunity to congratulate the organizers of the workshop (NASC, SEEDAN,
WAAPP, WASP, AGRA, NARIs, Partners, etc.) and wish you a very successful
workshop.
Long
live Nigeria, Long live Africa.
Thank
you.
correct name, but wrong picture...
ReplyDeleteSo I'm just wondering if this page is legit? because you people have the name of the person who gave the Goodwill message , but then you associated the name with the picture of a different man. So was this an honest mistake, or are you people allowing someone else's face represent work that was done by another? because if that is the case, then that is just wrong.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a mistake with the picture. I don’t believe that is Dr. Asiedu’s face up there. Dr Asiedu gave this goodwill message and should be fully credited for his work well done. with his picture up there.
ReplyDeleteIs this page really legit ?