Kano State Government has revealed its efforts to sanitise the seed industry operating in the state, a move to improve the availability of quality seeds and enhance food security.
The Commissioner for Agriculture Dr Danjuma Mahmoud made this known on Tuesday in Kano at a cowpea seed support event organised by the Africa Agricultural Technology Foundation, AATF and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Earlier, the president of the Seed Companies in Nigeria (SEEDAN), Yusuf Ado Kibiyya had sought technological and research support to tackle challenges faced by seed growers in the country.
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“Over the years, seeds have been relegated to the background – it has not actually been given the accolades that it deserves as a catalyst of productivity,” he said.
He further added “Our campaign is to address this matter to all the leaderships from top to bottom to understand the value of seeds and to make investment in the cost of production.”
Reacting, Mahmoud, represented by Permanent Secretary of his ministry, Sadi Ibrahim, announced the government collaboration with agricultural and consumer councils to promote high-quality seeds for optimal yields.
“We procure some seeds from the national institute that are responsible for this initiative, produce it to get certified seeds which we ultimately distribute to our farmers at subsidized rates,” Mahmoud said.
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Meanwhile, the AATF’s Director, Programmes Development and Commercialisation, Emmanuel Okogbenin is worried about Nigeria’s importation of cowpea from Niger Republic despite being the biggest producer.
“We can grow cowpeas from all over Nigeria, however, the challenges are different from each geopolitical zone,” he said, hinting at the AATF’s plan to deploy technology to boost cowpeas production to earn over $336 million currently being made.
Okogbenin did not also rule out the effect of climate change on the growth of cowpeas in the country, hence the need for technology.