Nigeria seeks global edge with OECD seed certification review

Nigeria is intensifying reforms in its agricultural seed sector to boost food security, strengthen export competitiveness, and ensure farmers’ access to high-quality inputs as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) begins a fresh evaluation of the country’s seed system.

Speaking in Abuja, Abdullahi Sabi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural base through quality seeds.

“The very first thing the President said in his agricultural manifesto was: ‘Plant the right seed, feed an entire nation.’ That vision is what drives us.

“If we are to guarantee our food security, it means farmers must and should have access to affordable, quality seed at all times. Nigeria is more than happy to be part of this ecosystem”, Sabi said.

He stressed that Nigeria’s yield gap remains “worrisome” and blamed poor-quality or fake seeds for limiting productivity.

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“Currently, there are a lot of people who claim to be seed entrepreneurs and they are just giving people grains, not seed. If this scheme can guarantee high-yield, disease-resistant, and climate-resilient varieties, then we are in good business,” he noted.

The Minister further noted concerns about pesticide residues in Nigerian exports: “Today’s headlines are about toxic harvests. This is consigning.

“We cannot allow our hardworking farmers to lose premium prices because of lack of knowledge. Good seeds reduce the need for agrochemicals and improve keeping quality and nutrition”, he added.

On his part, Fatuhu Mohammed Buhari, Director General of the National Agricultural Seed Council described the OECD mission as a “historic milestone” for Nigeria.

“The OECD schemes provide an international framework for the certification of varietal identity and purity of agricultural seeds in trade. Nigeria was the 62nd country to join, and just one year after accession, we have become the OECD Africa Forum Secretariat,” Buhari said.

He revealed that Nigeria had already trained seed system actors from Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Rwanda, Congo, and Benin Republic, underscoring the country’s emerging leadership in Africa’s seed sector.

“With OECD membership, Nigeria’s seed companies can now access international markets across Africa and beyond. This positions Nigeria strategically within ECOWAS to influence our neighbours to join the scheme.”

Representing the OECD, Aurelia Nicotte, Programme Manager, commended Nigeria’s progress since joining the seed schemes in 2023.

“We sincerely believe that the OECD seed scheme contributes to food security goals and to the development of sustainable agriculture,” Nicotte said.

“It helps improve farmers’ livelihoods and contributes to economic growth because seed is really the start of the food system. You cannot do anything in agriculture without seed.”