UN assists Nigeria on seed improvement

The FAO Country Representative in Nigeria Dr. Louise Seshwaelo stated this in a message to a two-day training on “Seed Certification and Quality Control in Nigeria” which took place in Zaria.Daily Trust reports that the training was meant for staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture from 11 states drawn from the six geopolitical zones, […]

The FAO Country Representative in Nigeria Dr. Louise Seshwaelo stated this in a message to a two-day training on “Seed Certification and Quality Control in Nigeria” which took place in Zaria.
Daily Trust reports that the training was meant for staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture from 11 states drawn from the six geopolitical zones, and it is organised in collaboration with National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC).
According to Seshwaelo, the training was meant to equip the participants with strategies of attaining national food security.
“Seeds play a fundamental role in the development of civilisation by supplying food, feed, natural products, and traditional medicines. Seed, in this wise, remains a technology for agricultural transformation and a crucial tool for food security.
“For food security to be achieved there must be a sustainable seed security where farmers have access to sufficient quantities of the desired types of seed at the right time for continuous and sustainable crop production,” Seshwaelo said.
In his speech, Mr. Anthony Olatokun, Director General, NASC, represented by a Director in the council, Mr. Kehinde Adelugba, described the training as timely, “because of the  commencement of the rainy season.”
He added; “the training was deliberately organised to enable the quality control officers know and prepare for what to do when the rainy season starts. Inadequate manpower is one of the major challenges of the council. We are however working round the clock to achieve our set goals and objectives.”