(Kaduna: October 5, 2022) Nigeria will achieve self-sufficiency in maize production when farmers embrace hybrid varieties, a leading seed producer has said. Mr. Brighton Karume, the managing director of ECOBasic Seeds Limited, said productivity was hampered by farmers’ reliance on traditional varieties that are not resistant to disease, pests and drought.
Addressing a press conference to mark the company’s first anniversary, Mr Karume said despite growing the largest maize acreage on the continent, Nigeria was not the top producer due to poor varieties and land practices.
“Nigeria has an annual maize deficit of eight million metric tons. If half of the nation’s maize farmers embrace hybrid, this deficit will be overcome in no time,” he said.
Mr Karume said technology plays a very crucial role in agricultural productivity and hybrid technology brings about improved varieties which are helping farmers in other countries increase harvests for food and nutrition security.
ECOBasic Seeds Company Limited was established by AATF in consultation with seed associations in Nigeria to bridge the gap of early-generation seeds in West Africa.
About AATF: (www.aatf-africa.org)
AATF is an international not-for-profit organization that is empowering smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa with a wide choice of agricultural innovations that contribute to food and nutrition security to generate health and wealth for their families and communities. Established in 2003 as an African-led entity, AATF works with public and private partners across the full food value chain to access, develop, deliver and commercialize innovative technologies that bring meaningful change to Africa’s agriculture. AATF is driven by a vision of a prosperous and food-secure Africa, one where millions of smallholder farmers can transform African agriculture with the same innovations that are transforming food production around the world. AATF believes that farmers in Africa will become globally competitive through the use of the best technology, optimal agricultural practices, strategic product value addition and boosted access to efficient markets within and outside Africa.
For further information and photography contact:
Alex Abutu
AATF Communication Officer (West & Central Africa)
+2348068701960
a.abutu@aatf-africa.org
