Seeds productivity: Stakeholders condemn grains, ask SEEDAN, NASC to be proactive

  

The nation' s major stakeholders on certified seeds production have condemned the selling of fake seeds using a recognized identity to defraud farmers, just as they enjoined both Seeds Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN) and National Agricultural Seeds Council of Nigeria (NASC) to become more active in bringing to book defaulters against efficient seeds system.

This was the general voice at the recently held Annual General AGM Meeting ( AGM) of SEEDAN at Denis Hotel, Abuja where participants in unity condemned the effect of grains against food development and growth in Nigeria.

The president, All Farmers Association of Nigeria ( AFAN) Architect Kabir Ibrahim let loose the cat, saying SEEDAN has not done enough by ensuring farmers' awareness in buying certified seeds in Nigeria just as others toll his line of opinion.

Ibrahim then enjoined SEEDAN to form a strong synergy with AFAN saying seed companies would be making a serious mistake by not having strong partnership with his Association to ensure sustainable off takers of their certified seeds.

Also tolling the lane of farmers' president,  Mr. Emmanuel Njewere of Nigeria Agricultural Business Group stressed the need for synergy along the value chains of the sub sector towards a successful economic growth, adding that seed companies must be in constant talk with crop producers in order to get farmers being familiarized with using certified seeds.

Also, the regional representative, West Africa, African Agricultural Technology Foundation ( AATF) Jean Baptiste De La Salle Tignegre and AGRA Country Manager, Dr. Kehinde Makinde both agreed on the need to lend support that would enhance better efficient seeds system for availability to farmers in Nigeria.

The questions and answers session after the paper delivered by the former Director General ( DG) NASC Dr. Philip Ojo pointed to the fact that the high adulteration of seeds was still a great challenge to the sector as both SEEDAN and NASC are challenged to rise up to sanitize the system through deterrent to offenders by stiff penalties.

Dr. Ojo in his response to community seeds being perceived as great challenge to the sector by majority participants said that seed companies need to be more credible in productivity, saying farmers would be convinced with the yield performance of their products.

The former DG stressed the need for SEEDAN to encourage its members in the advertisement of their products as well.

Speaking on removal of community seeds patronage in view of adulteration, Dr. Ojo advised that the only means this could be achieved was through legislative process since it has been included in the seed Act.

According to him " community seeds have been included in the seed Act. But if SEEDAN feels otherwise , they can take the issue to National Assembly for amendment "

On the part of seeds regulation, Ojo enjoined both NASC and SEEDAN  to double their efforts against fake circulation adding those engaging in such act should be apprehended and made to face stiff penalties.

Majority stakeholders believed that the inclusion of community seeds in the sub sector was a deliberate act to shortage certified seed companies who had paid huge money to register and extablish an Incorporated company.

SEEDAN has through its former president, Otunba Richard Olafare in his speech delivered Sir George Zangir lamented the none payment of the 2013 Growth Enhancement Scheme ( GES) payment by the Federal Government saying finance for the sector become a great challenge even as many of its members are death.

However the SEEDAN new president, Alhaji Yusuf Ado Kibiya, a seasoned agriculturist with vast experience has said the association will be repositioned to be proactive with immediate effort of establishing a functional headquarter secretariat at Abuja for easy collaborations with relevant agencies both in the public and private sectors, saying the association would intensify in its working relation with NASC towards a better efficient system of improved seeds availability to farmers at all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria for sustainable food security.

He said the new executive will soon embark on englightenment engagement with National Assembly members towards better investment on certified seeds for farmers in their constituencies towards food security and employment creations.

 

The names of the rest executives include the Vice President 1, Sir, Nwaneva Christopher Nwabo, Vice President 2, Hon. Mohammed Dan' azuwi, Secretary, Marcus Ishaya, Financial Secretary, Mr. Adeyanju Michael Olagbade, Treasurer, Hon. Huhu Lawal, Membership/ Welfare, Chief Daniel Okafor and other Zonal Coordinators.