(Abuja: September 14, 2023) The umbrella body for all seed companies in Nigeria, SEEDAN is soliciting the support of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) to strengthen the seed sub-sector and place the issues of quality seeds as a priority for the government.
The newly elected President of SEEDAN, Mr. Yusuf Kibiya who made the request during a courtesy call to the West African Office of AATF today in Abuja said that efforts aimed at Nigeria attaining food security would remain a mirage until the seed sector receives government attention.
Kibiya noted that the seed sector in the country went into a comatose following several government policy somersaults which not only rendered the seed sector operators penniless but affected the quality of seeds farmers were also getting.
“The new SEEDAN Executive will work hard to get issues of seed to the frontline of government priorities. We will equally make a case for quality seeds because we know that it is only through quality seeds that we can raise agricultural productivity per hectare in view of the challenges of landholding regimes across the country.”
The President listed some areas of mutual collaboration with AATF and added that SEEDAN was prioritizing capacity building for local seed companies as one of the fastest ways for the government to achieve meaningful milestones in the food security initiatives.
Earlier, Dr Jean Baptiste, AATF’s Regional Representative for West Africa noted that the success of government food security initiatives would be dependent on how SEEDAN manages the seed sub-sector.
Dr. Baptiste urged the association to take the lead role in strengthening the nation’s seed system for the interest of the farmers and the country’s teeming population which depends on farmers for their daily meal.
He cited issues of climate change and other unpredictable weather patterns as critical challenges farmers are facing that require urgent attention saying that the AATF is already working with stakeholders to develop crop planting guidelines for farmers in the country.
SEEDAN is the foremost private seed body registered in Nigeria. The association was formed in 1993 as the apex private-sector seed trade body in Nigeria. SEEDAN has over 67 registered members who are private entrepreneurs with a reputation for integrity, quality, and excellence in business management, engaged in the production and marketing of quality seeds across Nigeria and West Africa.
About AATF (www.africa-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 the 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 contact:
Alex Abutu
AATF Communications Officer (West and Central Africa)
+2348068701960
