Acute shortage of improved seeds imminent!

Seed

The lack of financial support to research institutes and agro inputs sub sector especially the seed companies may soon lead to shortage of breeder, foundation and certified seeds in the country according to a reliable source who spoke with Food Farm News on condition of anonymity.

Findings revealed that finance of the seed sub sector in the last three years has been epileptics since many of the seed companies could not get access to bank loans, research Institutes too are not adequately funded to produce enough breeders, foundation and certified improved seeds to supply the whole nation.

One reason our source attributed as responsible was long delay of payment to seed companies that participated in the Growth Enhancement Support Programme of the Federal Government (FG) during the last administration, as money they could have reinvested into the business is already tied down while interest is accruing in the commercial banks.

The source said that indigenous seeds companies may go into oblivion if action is not taken proactively and that in addition, influx of foreigners into the country all in the name of supplying quality seeds in suspicious circumstances has to be curtailed to protect the local companies noting that seeds are basic and critical input for enhancing agricultural production and productivity.