How to use SEEDCODEX to check fake seeds

If you are planning to buy genuine seed, then look for the ones that have SEEDCODEX tag by the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC).

The SEEDCODEX tag is an electronic seed verification and authentication system attached to every seed pack. Farmers can scratch it and text the code to a dedicated number for verification.

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The Director General of the council, Dr Phillips Ojo, stated this in Abuja at a press briefing to highlight the readiness of the agency to provide quality, certified seeds for the 2020/2021 planting season.

“Our call to farmers is that only seeds affixed with the NASC SEEDCODEX tags fall under this category and it should be what they should buy from the shelves of their seed suppliers.

“The SEEDCODEX tag, as you are aware, is the output of the NASC electronic seed verification and authentication system that enhances the efficiency of our seed certification and quality assurance scheme which we put in place to prevent seed adulteration by unscrupulous seed merchants.

“Farmers should know that all certified seeds packs in Nigeria must carry this authentication tags with code affixed on them for farmers to send to a dedicated number to instantly verify the authenticity of seeds they purchased and report any unscrupulous seed dealers in the national seed space to NASC,” Dr Ojo said.