The inflation rate in Nigeria and the cost of food items around the oil-rich nation is worrisome. It is becoming more difficult for people to rely on their salaries to feed.
Agriculture has been dealt a big blow by activities of bandits who sit in farms, waiting for a prey to kidnap or kill.
This has affected food prices and Nigerians are feeling the heat.
To help make more food available, the government has activated the Revised National Agricultural Seed Policy in an effort to boost the country’s GDP through agriculture.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, commended stakeholders and partners at the ceremony for their contributions in enriching the contents of the new policy document.
Improving Farmers Access To Quality Seeds
According to him, the idea behind the policy is for farmers’ to have unrestricted access to best genetics to enhance their productivity.
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Nigeria is currently confronted various challenges ranging from economic uncertainty, policy inconsistency, rising oil prices, population explosion, insecurity and of recent, the armed conflicts in many countries of the world.
All these factors are already having its effect on the agricultural system and food security of the nation.
Improving Agriculture
To this end, the present administration has identified the agricultural sector as the most viable sector for the proposed diversification plan of the economy.
Abubakar, pointed out that the weaknesses and ambiguous areas in the erstwhile 2015 national seed policy has been expunged and the revised framework strengthened.
Furthermore, the introduced regulatory, promotional and protection roles of the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) will ensure that National Seed Policy has access to improved quality seeds.
The minister emphasised that seed remained a critical input in enhancing farmer’s productivity.
Abubakar noted that the critical review of the 2015 National Seed Policy and the progressive and positive changes in the operations of the seed industry had necessitated the review exercise.
The government had enactment of the National Agricultural Seed Act, No. 21 of 2019 and the Plant Variety Protection Act, No. 5 of 2021.
Together, they have confired new responsibilities and widened the scope of operations of NASC.
“Many reforms and policies have been put in place in the sector to facilitate its development as well as attract the necessary investment to the sector.”
Growth Policy
In his remarks however, the Director General, NASC, Dr. Philip Ojo, said the revised policy would invigorate the national seed system.
Also, he emphasised that it would trigger growth and development to consolidate on the gains and reforms made in the industry in recent times.
He said the seed sub-sector of Nigeria’s agricultural economy had undergone different stages of development since the country’s independence in 1960.
Furthermore, he pointed out that despite the attainment of such critical institutional structure for agricultural development, the seed landscape has evolved over the years.
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Ojo, expressed optimism that the new regulation would further enhance government efforts at ensuring that the country was not only food secured, but a net exporter of agricultural produce among the committee of nations.
He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the minister in particular.
According to him, they have. through their doggedness, ensured that the policy got all the necessary approvals.
Stakeholders and development partners of the seed policy include: United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN) among so many others.
