NASC and PIND Team Up to Improve Nigeria's Seed System

The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) have teamed up to boost seed certification, increase local production, unlock funding, and help farmers get quality seeds across Nigeria.

This agreement came during a two-day forum called "Unlocking Nigeria’s Seed Potential: Policy Implementation, Investment and Partnerships for Sustainable Access to Quality Seed," which took place on November 10 and 11 in Abuja.

The event drew regulators, researchers, seed companies, banks, and other stakeholders. They discussed priority actions, which groups are responsible, and timelines for solving problems with regulation, research commercialization, funding, distribution, and keeping track of seeds.

Attendees noted some progress in electronic seed certification, Plant Variety Protection, quality checks, and community-based seed production.

Despite this, they pointed out issues like high production costs, lack of access to finance, inconsistent seed quality, poor distribution, and gaps between research and commercialization as big obstacles for farmers and the industry.

Fatuhu Muhammed, the director-general of NASC, spoke through Okelola Folarin, the council’s director of plant protection. He said the success of Nigeria’s seed system should be judged by how easily farmers can get reliable seeds on time and at affordable prices.

"Farmers judge the strength of a seed system by whether they can obtain trusted seed at the right time and at a viable cost.
The value of this forum is that regulators, researchers, producers, financiers, and distributors have moved beyond separate conversations to agree on practical responsibilities and a common direction," he said.

Mr. Muhammed urged for more local investment in Nigeria’s seed industry to lessen the country’s reliance on imported seeds.
"It boils down to investment. We need to invest in research and development. These are things we need to do," he said.

Sam Ogbemi Daibo, executive director of PIND, noted that the forum has changed the talks in the sector from just pointing out problems to actually assigning responsibilities to solve them.
"The real test now is whether the priorities agreed here translate into stronger enterprises, credible markets, and dependable access for farmers," Mr. Daibo said.

Stephen Oludapo Adigun, the executive secretary of the Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria, called for financing options that are affordable and fit the seasonal needs of seed businesses.

Eniola Fabusoro, country director of IDH Nigeria, emphasized the need for skills development, better seed handling, and stronger partnerships to make sure the forum’s ideas lead to real results.

Partnership to Strengthen Seed Industry

This forum is the first major move under a two-year agreement between PIND and NASC to achieve these goals.

The partnership aims to combine NASC’s regulatory skills with PIND’s experience in market development to improve access to certified seeds, support local seed businesses, and attract investment, especially in the Niger Delta.

During the forum, participants looked for ways to remove certification delays without lowering quality standards and improve cooperation between regulators and seed producers.

They also discussed how to get breeder and foundation seeds from research institutions into commercial supply through licensing, technology transfer, and public-private partnerships.

There was a call for better teamwork among researchers, breeders, and seed companies to bring improved crop varieties to market. They also suggested that the National Seed Policy should be implemented effectively.

Stricter actions against fake seeds and better quality assurance were also recommended.

In addition, financial institutions and seed businesses explored funding models that suit the seasonal nature of seed production and distribution, including credit guarantees, insurance, and technical support to help seed companies get ready for investment.

Agro-dealers, extension service providers, farmers’ representatives, and tech companies also suggested ways to make seeds more affordable, plan for demand, access information, and ensure digital traceability.

Organizers said the forum gave a national platform for stakeholders across the seed value chain to agree on coordinated steps to protect farmers, strengthen trustworthy seed businesses, and improve access to quality planting materials.