‘How CSP is revitalizing Nigeria’s seed sector’

An implementing partner of the Collaborative Seed Programme (CSP), Sahel Consulting said it trained no fewer than 7,632 farmers and 15 seed companies on quality seed usage and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in a bid to enhance food production in Nigeria. It also organised validation workshops, establishing on-station and on-farm trials for 1,065 farmers in […]

An implementing partner of the Collaborative Seed Programme (CSP), Sahel Consulting said it trained no fewer than 7,632 farmers and 15 seed companies on quality seed usage and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in a bid to enhance food production in Nigeria.

It also organised validation workshops, establishing on-station and on-farm trials for 1,065 farmers in eight LGAs in Kaduna state on vegetable production and the use of quality seeds in collaboration with eight organisations.

Managing Partner of Sahel Consulting, Temitope Adegoroye, stated this at the Open Learning Event held in Abuja.

Open Learning Event is a platform designed to shed light on the Collaborative Seed Programme’s (CSP) remarkable journey and its transformative impact on the Nigerian agricultural landscape.

According to him, many feats in that regard have been achieved since 2021, after the CSP brought together Nigerian and Dutch organisations to solve significant concerns outlined in the National Seed Roadmap (NSRM), with the goal of advancing seed sector development in Nigeria.

He added that the CSP was conceived with a vision to revitalize Nigeria’s seed sector, empower rural households, and enhance food security.

“We have enhanced the Seed Tracker software with IITA and the BASICS-II Project, established a quality assurance protocol for potatoes with the International Potato Centre (CIP) and GIZ, supported professionals’ participation in ISSD Africa conference, organized a study visit to KEPHIS in Kenya, trained 17 Seed Inspectors for decentralized inspection activities, and conducted an exchange visit with Naktuinbouw on tomato seed quality assurance.

“As we enter the final year of the CSP, I want to reaffirm our commitments to doing more and finishing this current phase strongly. We will consolidate our achievements and further strengthen our institutions in the seed sector to drive lasting impact,” he added.