Onwards food sovereignty: A case for open-pollinated seeds, organic farming

Nigeria, like many African nations, is experiencing a gradual shift towards dependence on Western biotechnology for its agricultural needs. This shift has led to the widespread adoption of hybrid and genetically modified (GM) seeds, chemical fertilisers, and synthetic pesticides — products largely controlled by multinational corporations. While these technologies promise higher yields, they come with […]

Nigeria, like many African nations, is experiencing a gradual shift towards dependence on Western biotechnology for its agricultural needs. This shift has led to the widespread adoption of hybrid and genetically modified (GM) seeds, chemical fertilisers, and synthetic pesticides — products largely controlled by multinational corporations. While these technologies promise higher yields, they come with significant drawbacks, including loss of seed sovereignty, soil degradation, increased farmer dependency on foreign inputs, and potential health risks.

The increased reliance on hybrid and genetically modified seeds from Western biotech firms is undermining our agricultural self-sufficiency. Hybrid seeds, though capable of producing high yields, do not reproduce. True-to-type, meaning farmers must purchase new seeds each planting season and genetically modified seeds, patented and controlled by multinational corporations’ increase farmer dependency, as they often come with legal restrictions preventing farmers from saving seeds.

In addition to seed dependency, the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides — often imported from Western countries—poses serious environmental and economic concerns. The excessive application of synthetic inputs depletes soil fertility over time, leading to desertification and loss of arable land. Additionally, the financial burden of purchasing foreign agricultural inputs contributes to economic strain, diverting national resources away from local agricultural research and development.

The consequences of this biotech dependency are far-reaching. Smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, are being marginalised as they struggle to afford expensive inputs. The country’s rich indigenous crop varieties are disappearing, replaced by a limited range of patented crops. This scenario erodes Nigeria’s food sovereignty, leaving the nation vulnerable to global seed market fluctuations and corporate control.

To counter these threats, we must embrace a sustainable and self-reliant agricultural system by investing in open-pollinated seeds (OPS) and organic farming. These approaches will help reclaim the nation’s food sovereignty, empower local farmers, protect biodiversity, and ensure long-term agricultural sustainability.

Open-pollinated seeds offer a viable alternative to hybrid and GM seeds. Unlike hybrid seeds, OPS retain their genetic integrity across multiple generations, allowing farmers to save and replant seeds without loss of productivity. This characteristic not only reduces the cost of farming but also preserves genetic diversity, which is crucial for climate resilience

The House of Representatives Committee on Agricultural Production recently conducted a hearing on GMO and hybrid seeds due to growing concerns about their impact on food security, human health, and the environment.

At the hearing, scientists, civil society groups raised alarms about the health and environmental concerns (potential health risks of consuming GMO foods and their environmental implications), food sovereignty and biodiversity, economic and agricultural impact and external influence where allegations were made that international forces promoting GMOs were contributing to insecurity in Nigeria.

The hearing exposed how Nigeria is standing at a crossroads in its agricultural development and how reliance on Western biotech companies threatens food sovereignty, biodiversity, and economic independence. However, by investing in open-pollinated seeds and organic farming, we can reclaim control over our agricultural future.

We saw the need to develop high-yielding, drought-resistant, and pest-resistant varieties without the risks associated with genetic modification that can lead us to organic farming – another critical strategy for reducing Nigeria’s reliance on Western biotech corporations.

By avoiding synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, organic agriculture will enhance soil health, preserve biodiversity, and reduce environmental pollution. Organic methods such as composting, crop rotation, intercropping, and biological pest control can significantly improve soil fertility while minimising input costs for farmers.

The adoption of organic farming practices will also open new economic opportunities. The global demand for organic food is increasing, and Nigeria can position itself as a key supplier of organically grown products. Organic certification programmes, supported by government policies and private sector investment, can help smallholder farmers tap into premium markets, both locally and internationally.

Additionally, organic farming is more climate-resilient than conventional agriculture. It maintains soil organic matter, retain more moisture, withstands droughts and erratic weather patterns. This resilience is particularly important for Nigeria, where climate change poses significant threats to food production.

But, transitioning to an open-pollinated seed system and organic farming will require a well-structured policy framework and substantial investment. We should immediately start by banning or implement strict regulations on GM seeds to protect farmers from biotech monopolies ensuring that traditional seed systems are not undermined.

We should fund seed banks and breeding programs to safeguard and help preserve local crop varieties and support the development of improved OPS through natural breeding techniques.

Subsidise organic farming by redirecting agricultural subsidies from chemical inputs to organic practices to encourage more farmers to transition to sustainable farming methods.

Build farmers’ capacity through extension services to focus on organic farming techniques, soil fertility management, the benefits of seed-saving practices and develop organic products markets to incentivise farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices.

Despite its numerous benefits, transitioning to OPS and organic farming will come with challenges. One major hurdle is the entrenched influence of multinational seed and agrochemical companies, they will aggressively promote their products through marketing and farmer outreach programs. Additionally, there is a lack of awareness among farmers about the advantages of OPS and organic farming.

To overcome these barriers, there is need to educate farmers, policymakers, and consumers about the long-term benefits of seed sovereignty and organic agriculture. Community-based organisations, religious groups, and local leaders can play a crucial role in mobilising grassroots support.

Financial support such as microcredit schemes, grants, and cooperative funding models should be established to help smallholder farmers transition to organic systems. Government-backed research institutions should also prioritise the development of indigenous, high-yielding OPS to ensure that Nigerian farmers have access to competitive alternatives to hybrid and GM seeds.

Nigeria’s path to true agricultural sovereignty lies in self-reliance, innovation, and commitment to sustainable food production. By embracing open-pollinated seeds and organic farming, we can break free from biotech dependency and build a resilient food system for future generations. But, it remains to be seen how these discussions will shape Nigeria’s policies on GMOs moving forward.

 

Ahmad resides at FMA2, off Yaya (Petel) Abubakar Road, Fadamar Mada, Bauchi Email: [email protected]