The Country Manager of HarvestPlus Nigeria, Dr. Yusuf Dollah, has called on key players in Nigerias seed sector to unite and accelerate implementation of Kanos seed policy, aiming for 7080 per cent progress before the policys 2027 expiration.
Dr. Yusuf made this known on Thursday during a two-day review workshop on the implementation framework of seed policy organised by the Nigerian Seed Industry Practitioners Forum in collaboration with propcom+, Harvestplus, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and other partners.
He added that a strong coalition is needed to close gaps and ensure real agricultural transformation.
In his remarks, he Kano States Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Danjuma Mahmoud (represented by Bashir Sanusi), announced a N20 billion plan for seven rural dams, each holding about 1.3 billion litres, to support irrigation and social needs. The government is also providing nearly 200 pieces of modern farming equipment, including power tillers, harvesters, and tractors, to boost smallholder farmer productivity.
Dr. Mahmoud underscored the states dedication to agricultural reforms and improving citizens livelihoods, in line with national seed and farm policy. Dr. Oluwole Towolawi, from the National Agricultural Seed Council, highlighted major barriers like underfunding and poor coordination, adding that the 2022 seed policy aims to expand quality seeds, fight counterfeiting, and cut malnutrition through biofortified and climate-smart crops ultimately reducing poverty among small farmers.
Also speaking, the director of seed information, Data management, and capacity building from the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), Dr. Oluwole Towolawi, highlighted a lack of synergy, inadequate funding, or late fund release as major barriers to policy performance.
He noted that the implementation framework for the 2022 national Agricultural Seed policy guidelines aims to increase the availability of quality seed, reduce counterfeiting, and reduce childhood and maternal malnutrition by 40% through the adoption of biofortified and climate-resilient varieties, which will help reduce the incidence of poverty in smallholder farming.
