The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) on Thursday the 29th of July, 2021 unveiled the Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Act 2021 in an event that held in Lagos, Nigeria with the theme “Unveiling the Plant Variety Protection Act 2021 and Plans for Implementation.”
The CEO of the NESG, Mr.
Laoye Jaiyeola while delivering the welcome remarks commended the Nigerian
Government and the National Assembly for signing the Plant Variety Protection Act, 2021 into law following
deliberations, advocacy visits, closed-door meetings, expert reviews,
traditional and digital campaigns in the last few months with diverse
stakeholders and the citizenry.
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“According
to the Pan African Farmer Organisation (PAFO), the agriculture sector in
Nigeria needs six times more seeds than it currently utilizes in order to
fulfill its yield and production potential. As we foster productivity and
competitiveness in the agricultural sector through the protection of the
intellectual property rights of Nigerian plant breeders, it is our hope that
there will be an increase in seed production and better access to improved seed
varieties by end-users,” Mr. Jaiyeola stated.
Mr. Jaiyeola reiterated
that there was no doubt that the implementation of the Plant Variety Protection
(PVP) Act 2021 will assist to better position Nigeria to feed her growing
population, attract foreign investments into the Seed sub-sector as well as
enjoy the gains of intra- and inter-border trade opportunities in the seed trade
and exports which will be crucial for creating opportunities for rural youths
to live and thrive in their various communities; and that the NESG remains committed to further collaboration with
Seed sector players in the implementation of the NASC Act, 2019 and the PVP
Act, 2021.
While delivering
goodwill messages, Professor Lateef Sanni, country coordinator of Building a
sustainable Cassava System in Nigeria stated that early generation seeds the company are being stimulated for commercial seeds production in communities in
Benue, Kogi, Oyo, and Delta state and that the PVP Act 2021 will not only
protect breeders but also help sustain the agricultural system. President of
the Nigerian Association of Plant Breeders, Professor Chiedozie Egesi who was
represented by Dr. Dorcas Abidoye said that the association has been working
together with the NASC from the inception and it is a great honor that the
bill has finally become an Act. She stated that the implementation of the PVP
Act 2021 was particularly important for smallholder farmers, plant breeders and
scientists.
Speaking in the same
vein, the representative of the International Union for the Protection of New
Varieties of Plants (UPOV), Mr. Ben Rivoire said that being a member of the
organization and implementing the PVP system is key to having an effective system that encourages the development of new varieties and high-quality seeds that
will strengthen the agricultural sector in Nigeria.
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The Director-General of
NASC, Dr. Philip Olusegun Ojo said that the unveiling is an important milestone
and that before now, Nigeria was one of the few countries in Africa without a
Plant Variety Protection system. He expressed his appreciation to the President,
the National assembly, Minister for Agriculture, Development Partners, Media
organizations, and everyone involved in the successful development of the PVP.
“Nigeria’s agricultural
sector transformation is a significant reason why the country should pay
attention to plant variety protection (PVP). This would incentivize national
and multinational agribusiness investments in the country. We will begin to see
on our farmer’s field superior yielding, stress-tolerant, disease-resistant,
climate-smart, and input efficient varieties which will be introduced by
innovative breeders both from the public and the private sector in few years to
come. In addition to the above, we will begin to witness efficient land use and
reduced food cost as a result of the increased productivity from cultivated
hectares across the country.” Dr. Ojo stated.
Furthermore, the NASC
Director-general revealed that there was one important remaining milestone left
and that is the deposition of instrument of accession to the International
Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) which is the only
requirement left to be met by the Country in her quest to become a full member
of UPOV. Dr. Ojo also revealed that the African
Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) operates a PVP system that covers
the territory of its seventeen member states and that Nigeria needs to complete
the process in the shortest possible time to become a strong player in the
global trade of seeds in the near future and avoid becoming a dumping ground
for all sought of junks through the importation of seeds.
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Dr. Folarin Okelola
while delivering a presentation on “Unveiling the Plant Variety Protection Act
No 5 of 2021” said that the Act has 57 sections and 11 parts which speak to
all parts of seeds Intellectual Property protection and it serves to promote
increased staple crop productivity for smallholder farmers in Nigeria and
encourages investment in plant breeding and crop variety development. He
further stated that the PVP Act 2021 promotes mutual accountability in the
seeds sector and protects new varieties of plants based on novelty,
distinctness, stability, and uniformity.
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