Director General of National Seeds Council of Nigeria (NASC), Philip Olusegun, says 65 per cent of seeds used in West Africa are produced from Nigeria.
Olusegun disclosed this in Kano when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje at Government House, Kano, Wednesday.
He also said that 60 per cent of the seeds used in Nigeria were from Kano State.
He added that “60 per cent of seeds used in the country are from Kano State and most of the seed producing companies ýave state of the art processing facilities.”
The general manager urged Gov. Ganduje to inaugurate an e-seed planning committee in the state to help farmers to have access to quality seeds.
He said he would do the needful for farmers in the state to have access to quality seeds, noting that “from now on, we will make sure that Nigerian farmers buy seeds from accredited dealers.”
He said the NASC team was in Kano State to sensitise farmers and stakeholders on use of better seedlings.
Responding, Ganduje said agriculture was the answer to Nigeria’s economic development, in line with the diversification agenda of Federal Government.
He added that “we have invested so much in agriculture; we have succeeded in convincing farmers that now is their time because agriculture is the answer to the economic development of Nigeria.”
The governor said farmers in the country were left on their own and most could not differentiate between good and bad seed, noting, however, that “with good seeds, our farmers ýcan get what they get in 10 years in one year.”
Ganduje added that the Kano State Government recruited 700 extension workers to boost agriculture in the state.