TheCable

The federal government has inaugurated the revised 2022 national agricultural seed policy aimed at ensuring food security in Nigeria.

Speaking at the inauguration on Tuesday in Abuja, Mohammad Abubakar, minister of agriculture, said the policy would enable farmers to have access to improved quality seeds.

He said the changes in the operations of the seed industry necessitated the review of the exercise, adding that the revised policy would remove the ambiguous areas in the previous national seed policy.

“It will strengthen the identified weaknesses and introduce innovation that optimizes the regulatory, promotional and protection roles of the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) in ensuring that our esteemed farmers have access to improved quality seeds,” he said.

“Some of these include the introduction of SEEDCODEX as a quality authentication tool and traceability, aimed at curbing adulteration, and participation of third-party seed inspectors in the quality assurance process.

“Also, the establishment of satellite and private seed testing laboratories and strategic seed banks to act as reserve and buffer stocks in case of food emergencies.

” As well as encourage active participation of women and youth in seed business along seed value chain among other innovations embedded in the new policy document.”