NATIONAL SEED PLANNING WORKSHOP 2016

The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) in collaboration with CORAF/WECARD and West Africa Seed Program(WASP) is Organizing a National Workshop For Developing a Rapid Action Plan For Quality Seed Production and Presentation of the Alliance for a Seed Industry in West Africa (ASIWA) Nigeria Chapter.

The objective of the workshop include:

  1. To Address immedaite need for quality seed in the country and to develop a plan for the development of the Seed Sector in Nigeria beyond 2016
  2. To Share and Sensitize Stakeholder in the Nigeria Seed Industry on the (ASIWA) Concept for by in

Date: 7th-8th April,2016

Venue: Chelsea Hotel,Abuja,Nigeria

Time: 9;00am Prompt

NASC WARNS AGRO FIRMS, DEALERS ON ADULTERATED SEEDS DISTRIBUTION

The National Agricultural seeds Council, NASC, has warned all seed producers against distribution of fake seeds to the Nigerian farmers. The agency also urged local and foreign operators to register their seed companies or face the consequences of non -compliance.

This warning was given at the South West Market Sensitization and Educational Enlightenment Programmed organized by the Council in Ibadan, Oyo State to rid the market of spurious seed Dealers.

The Director General of NASC, Dr. Olusegun Ojo, noted that despite the campaign against the distribution of adulterated seeds to farmers, there have been more cases of such act among some Agro dealers and other seed producing companies. He explained that such seeds have affected the productivity of the nation’s agricultural sector as many farmers were not able to reap commensurate harvest from their farms.

According to him, for any seeds to be sold in the country, such seeds must have gone through seed quality assurance process by the Council, while the distribution firms must also abide by some regulatory conditions. For instance, the Council boss explained that all seeds must be packed in good condition without being mixed with other varieties and that each packed bag of seeds must contain the tag of the Council as well as the company’s label.

The DG said that the Council had accredited 157 seed companies of different categories, which include four large-scale, nine medium scale and about 67 small scale seed companies “This registration is so important because “if you don’t get it right, farmers will get very bad productivity. So, it is extremely important that they get it right. As part of efforts to sanitize the seed industry, already, we have delisted three defaulting seed companies “he said.

STAKEHOLDERS TO UPDATE NATIONAL DATABASE ON SEED PRODUCTION

The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) and other stakeholders in the seed industry are set to update the national data base on community based seed Production (CBSP) activities nationwide while creating awareness on community seed production. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arch Sonny Echono, spoke in Abuja at the Workshop on Community Seed Production Programme. organized by NASC.The Permanent Secretary attributed the use of poor quality seed by farmers to lack of awareness on availability of better performing crop varieties that are high yielding, disease and drought tolerant.
The Director General NASC, Dr Phillip Olusegun Ojo, traced the history of the programme back to 1993 as a promotional tool to ensure lateral spread and diffusion of improved seed in the rural communities so as to create access to improved seed varieties as a replacement for farmers saved seed.
He further explained that the programme was designed to create market opportunities in the rural communities for seed companies that are engaged in certified seed production and marketing, adding that the CBSP has been used by various development partners/projects in making available improved seed to farmers in their project areas.

NASC DESTROYS FAKE AND ADULTERATED SEEDS

As part of efforts to rid the country of fake and adulterated seeds, the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) has destroyed fake and adulterated seeds confiscated from some seed dealers, nationwide
While performing the burning of the impounded seeds at this years farmers’ field day held at the NASC Technical Headquarters Sheda, Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arc Sonny T. Echono, said large quantity of seeds that were not properly packaged and with no seed label or certification tags attached or displayed in the open containers were confiscated, adding that the burning was to send warning signal to other fake seed dealers. He said fake and adulterated seed in the country could cost farmers billions of dollars in revenue if not checked.
The Director General, NASC, Dr Philip Olusegun Ojo, in his welcome address at the event said any seed package offered for sale without the blue certification tag of NASC is fake and should not be purchased. He said the Council embarked on enforcement and surveillance activities within the cropping season during which fake and adulterated seed were confiscated in various markets, He urged farmers to buy seed from reputable seed companies and seed dealers, only.

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