Expect shortfall in seed production this year – Seed Council

Nigeria may witness a shortfall in seeds production this year, the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) has warned. NASC’s Director-General.  Dr. Olusegun Ojo, who disclosed this when speaking with journalists on the sideline of Professional Cadre training programme organised in Abuja by the open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), said a lot of seed companies […]

Nigeria may witness a shortfall in seeds production this year, the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) has warned.

NASC’s Director-General.

 Dr. Olusegun Ojo, who disclosed this when speaking with journalists on the sideline of Professional Cadre training programme organised in Abuja by the open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), said a lot of seed companies had not been producing because of debts being owed them.

“There will be a shortfall now. A lot of seed companies have not been producing because of the money being owed them. But that is not to say there are no seeds at all,” he said.

But he said the government was making efforts to clear the backlogs of debt so that the companies could start seeds production.

He said seeds production is in the realm of private sector and NASC is just to regulate the industry.

On adoption of Genetically Modified foods by the country, Dr Ojo said, “Before GMO is allowed there is need to build the local capacity, and the relevant agencies that are in the seed industry must be carried along.”