IITA to mitigate access to improved seeds

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has organized a two-day pre-season and planning workshop aimed at consolidating the gains in the sustainable delivery of improved cowpeas to smallholder farmers in Nigeria.

According to IITA seed specialist Professor Lucky Omoigui, the pre-season and planning workshop is aimed at bringing together all stakeholders along the legume seed value chain to brainstorm and finalize the work plan, outline the plan of activities for 2024 wet-season to achieve the year’s milestone and chart a seed roadmap for a robust legume seed system in Nigeria.

Professor Omoigui explained that the deficit usually encountered in cowpea production is associated with farmer’s inability to access good seeds as well as improved variety that has been developed over time to mitigate high and qualitative yield and other production constraints.

“Nigerian average cowpea production is about 2.3 million metric tons per annum and our annual cowpea demand is over 3 million metric tons. That is why we have to import cowpea from neighbouring countries to meet the gap in demand for cowpea. We are optimistic that with improved variety seeds we would be able to increase our cowpea production and by extension increase our farmers per capital income and save the country some money,” he said.

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Similarly, the IITA Kano Station head Dr Alpha Yaya Kamara told participants that there is a need for farmers in the rural areas to have equal access to improved seeds, adding that good preparations starts with having good seeds. Kamara then tasks all seed companies to ensure that they have expanded their chains of supply to reach famers at the grassroots.

While addressing participants, Yusuf Ado Kibiya, President of the Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN) which serves as an umbrella body for all seed companies in Nigeria, stated that SEEDAN is back as full member of the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), adding that the association is collaborating effectively with other relevant bodies as it has constituted a biotechnology committee under the guidance of AFSTA.

The SEEDAN chairman expressed the association’s readiness to collaborate with all stakeholders along the seed value chain in ensuring that farmers have access to improved quality seeds.