The Legislative arm of government has been urged to ensure the passage of the Protection of new varieties of plant (PVP) bill into law for the establishment and maintenance of a strong legal protection for seed and plant products.
Philip Olusegun Ojo, Director General, National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), said there is need for the quick passage of the PVP law to complement the existing Seed Act for the establishment and maintenance of a strong legal protection for seed and plant products and its enforcement to deter those who engage in illegal seed practices.
Speaking at the National Seed Retreat organised by the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), in Zaria, Kaduna State, Ojo explained that the council has introduced the National Seed Tracker, introduced the turn-key electronic Seed Authentication system, developed a Five (5) year strategic plan and up-graded the central seed testing laboratories to meet international Standards”.
Ojo stated that the council has commenced effort towards firming up on its membership of international organizations like the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), International Seed Federation (ISF) International Seed Testing Association (ISTA).
He said all in a bid to promote our nations participation in the global trade of seeds and enhance our quality seed delivery capability while encouraging private sector participation in the Seeds Sub sector”.
Muhammad Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development noted that quality seed is a key input towards enhancing Agricultural productivity and ensuring food security, job creation and economic growth in Nigeria.
He said, “Seeds are the carrier of the genetic potential of the crop plant that determines the upper limit of yield and the ultimate productivity of fertilizers, agro-chemicals and other inputs including machineries and farming techniques.
Nanono informed that the Ministry has the responsibility to provide a conducive policy environment of ensuring the sustenance of a virile National Seeds System and to enable a credible, dynamic, competitive and relevant industry which provides healthy and high-quality planting materials for Nigerian farmers and for export irrespective of their location.
“The overall set of policy principles of the Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP) ,would concentrate on providing an enabling environment for stakeholders at the federal and state level to play their distinctive roles”.
He also said that the policy would provide a conducive legislative and agricultural knowledge framework, macro-policies, security enhancing physical infrastructure and institutional mechanisms for coordination, access to adequate inputs, finance, information on innovation, agricultural services and markets.
The Minister emphasized that the council, in partnership with all relevant stakeholders is responsible for seed industry development and regulation in the country and has over the years been involved in various activities towards ensuring the development of the nation’s seed sector.
He also said that the policy would provide a conducive legislative and agricultural knowledge framework, macro-policies, security enhancing physical infrastructure and institutional mechanisms for coordination, access to adequate inputs, finance, information on innovation, agricultural services and markets.
“Your presence here as stakeholders is simple but are service to posterity because with a growing population expected to reach above 400 million in few years from now we must plan ahead. Recognize the importance of this Sub sector to the overall sustenance of national plan through agricultural productivity”.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Abdullahi Adamu stated that there is need to focus more on locally made seed because they have been tested and proven in the Seeds sub sector and assured that the bills before both chambers of the National Assembly would soon be passed into laws.
“Quality Seed is vital in the process of achieving food sufficiency, job creation as well as boost the internally generated revenue in the country”.
He also lauded President Buhari’s commitment to the Agricultural sector which he said would change the narrative on the economy shifting from oil sector to the Agricultural sector.
Cynthia Egboboh, Abuja.
