The Gombe State Government has commended the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for its seed system development initiative, “Feed-the-Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity (NIAA)”.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, gave the commendation while delivering a speech during the presentation of the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) certificates to Community-Based Seed Entrepreneurs’ (CBSE’s) cooperatives in the state.
He said the intervention, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), was assisting farmers to boost food availability while increasing their income.
Represented by the Special Adviser (SA) to the Governor on Donor and Development Partners Coordination, Dr Isiaku Babayo, Mr Jatau said the support would help improve agricultural activities in the state in the areas of seed production and marketing.
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He said seeds were great determinants of harvest and adaptability to climate change.
He added that the state was happy with USAID and IITA’s support because the North East, as well as the whole country, was being threatened by food shortages given the impact of insurgency in the region.
The Chief of Party of Feed-the-Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity, Mr Prakash Silwal, said USAID’s contributions to economic recovery in the North East were making a difference.
Acting Director General (DG) of NASC, Dr Ishiak Khalid, said the seed system development was to ensure the availability of certified seeds for farmers’ timely use.
He said, “We also ensure provision of extension services, mandatory monitoring visits by NASC Seed Certification Officers and ensure their seed samples undergo rigorous testing by the NASC laboratory in Gombe.”
Our correspondent reports that 27 cooperatives from the state received the NASC certificates, alongside 94 others from the implementing states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
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