During a “One-day Training of Seed Producers and Dealers n High Quality Seed Production and Handling” that was held in Abuja on Tuesday, the Director General of the National Agricultural Seed Council, NASC, Dr. Philip Ojo, revealed that 449 seed companies had been registered in an effort to increase food production in Nigeria. He added that it had become essential for NASC to organize the training in conjunction with Surez Global Resource Nigeria Limited because “there is big business in seed business,” more people are anticipated to enter and invest in Nigeria’s seed industry, which he compared to a piece of uncultivated land.
He asserts that Nigeria supplies 60% of the seed used in West Africa, and it is in Nigeria’s best interest to continue to hold this position of leadership, given that other African nations frequently visit Nigeria to learn about the processes and technologies employed in seed production. He added mentioned that the present need for seeds in Nigeria is 550,000 metric tonnes, but just half of it is being met. As a result, he made a plea for new seed producing firms to enter the market and fill the void.
Seed industry has seen a significant rise in recent years.
The Director General also stated that the Nigerian seed industry had experienced a phenomenal expansion in recent years, which he attributed to a rise in investment from the private sector in the industry as well as a boost in the number of new companies entering the seed market. There are currently up to 449 registered seed enterprises in the different categories which include large, medium, small, producer/seller, and seed dealers, compared to 314 in 2021. The committee is now reviewing additional applications for accreditation.
New firms make up a significant number of seed companies, and they are not yet equipped with the technological know-how necessary for the production of high-quality seeds and the post-harvest management of seeds. This prevents the seeds’ viability and integrity from being damaged in any way as they move up the value chain. Even businesses that have been around for a while still occasionally hire new workers who are lacking in the expertise necessary to ensure the highest standards in seed production, preparation, packing, storing, and handling.
Production of high-quality seeds requires professionalism.
Speaking further, the DG affirmed that making high-quality seeds is a specialized job that requires a lot of expertise. These skills can’t be learned without training that teaches the necessary knowledge and methods in seed production. This includes all the work that happens on the field, and also cultivation, processing, storing, and distributing the seeds. To ensure quality seed development and distribution, as well as careful management and operation of the seeds at each level to avoid harm and loss of viability, NASC is tasked with training key players in Nigeria.
Thus, these important players (seed producers and dealers) accountable for providing quality seeds for the renowned farmers must be periodically trained in quality seed generation and post-harvest management to improve their abilities in modern quality seed production methods and operations. The course will teach them the basics of quality seed production, process, preservation, and management, as well as the new National Agricultural Seeds Council Act No. 21 of 2019’s seed standards and regulations so that they may produce and market seeds for their seed firms properly.
Food security cannot be achieved without quality seeds.
Ebiarede Zidafamor, Director of Seed Coordination and Management Services at the NASC, also shared their thoughts, saying they are educating the new entrepreneurs who have not gained the essential knowledge or capacity to produce seed. Zidafamor also noted that the training program would assist seed companies in playing by the rules in terms of professionalism in order to provide farmers with quality seeds. He emphasized the point by saying that food security can only be reached with quality seeds.
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449 seed companies registered by NASC – DG – Nigeria’s seed industry is a big business that more investors will invest in. – Express your point of view.
Wow that really awesome for the seed industry in growth and more people joining the industry believing in the plans and also manage and improve production method.
This is one of the area that can make the country grow it revenue generation.Nigeria is blessed with different seeds which if properly manage,it can bring huge amount of revenue through foreign exchange to the economy.
This seeds companies are aimed at increasing our output in food production. We seed companies which will help facilitate food production in large scale for the consumption of the people.
Nigeria contributes 60% of West Africa’s seed, and other African nations often visit Nigeria to learn about seed production.
The current demand for seeds in Nigeria is 550,000 metric tonnes, but the country is only able to meet a little over half of that.
The training program would better equip seed companies to adhere to professional standards, allowing them to better serve farmers with high-quality seeds.
Nigeria’s seed industry is a big business that more investors will invest in. Very good to have seed industry growing more in Nigeria. It add to growth of the country
In Nigeria, there were a total of 449 seed firms that were registered in an effort to enhance food production.
Because there is a significant market for seed products, it was crucial for NASC to organize the training in collaboration with Surez Global Resource Nigeria Limited.
As a consequence of this, a call should be made for new seed-generating businesses to enter the market and fill the hole that has been created.
It is in Nigeria’s best interest to maintain its position of leadership, as Nigeria is the source of a significant proportion of the seed that is utilized throughout West Africa.
They are instructing new business owners who have not yet acquired the necessary expertise or capacity to manufacture seed in order to help them do so.
Even companies that have been in operation for a considerable amount of time will periodically fill open positions with new personnel who do not possess the level of experience required to guarantee the greatest possible quality in seed production, preparation, and storage.
Key stakeholders in Nigeria need to be trained by NASC to assure the development and distribution of high-quality seeds, as well as the careful maintenance and operation of the seeds at each level to prevent harm and loss of viability.
Seed business is really doing well to make more investor want to invest in another way revenue can be generate by the government
The development and distribution of high-quality seeds, as well as the careful maintenance and operation of the seeds at each level to prevent harm and loss of viability Is vital!
This is a great opportunity for the country to increase its income. Nigeria is endowed with a wide variety of seed types that, if managed well, might provide substantial foreign cash for the country’s economy.
Viable seeds are very important to address the issue of shortage of food in Nigeria and since we’re in the forefront of producing seed in west Africa, more players should register and become seed producer in Nigeria.
More should please register for seed production to be able to prevent food shortage for next year and also Nigeria will be able to retain their position as the largest seed producing country in west Africa.