The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) has called for increased domestic investment in Nigeria’s seed system to reduce reliance on imports and improve farmers’ access to quality seeds.

The Council’s Director-General, Fatuhu Muhammed, represented by Dr Okelola Folarin, made the call at the opening of a two-day Nigeria Seed Systems Conference in Abuja, held on 10–11 November 2026.

Organised by NASC and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), the conference was themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Seed Potential: Policy Implementation, Investment and Partnerships for Sustainable Access to Quality Seed.”

Muhammed said greater investment in research and development was necessary to strengthen local seed production and enable Nigeria to produce more of the seeds it currently imports.

“It boils down to investment. We need to invest in research and development. These are things we need to do,” he said.

NASC plans digital platform to improve seed accessibility

Muhammed identified poor coordination between seed producers and farmers as a major challenge facing the industry. While producers report difficulties finding buyers for their seeds, farmers frequently complain about limited access to quality planting materials.

To address the gap, NASC is considering the use of digital technology to connect seed producers, distributors and farmers through a platform that would improve accessibility and encourage greater adoption of improved seeds.

The initiative is expected to create a digital ecosystem where seed industry participants can interact beyond physical networks.

Muhammed said accessibility remained one of the main barriers to seed adoption and that digital technology could help ensure farmers obtain the seeds they need.

Stronger enforcement needed to tackle counterfeit seeds

The Council also called for better awareness and enforcement of Nigeria’s Seed Act to address illegal imports, counterfeiting and the sale of grain as planting seed.

Muhammed warned that some traders package or repackage products from established seed companies and sell them fraudulently, exposing farmers to poor-quality planting materials.

He said stronger enforcement was necessary to protect farmers, improve confidence in the seed market and support the growth of the domestic industry.

Funding was another major concern. Muhammed noted that seed development requires substantial investment in research, production and distribution, but access to financing remains limited.

He called for increased funding across the seed value chain, arguing that Nigeria would continue to face seed supply challenges unless these constraints were addressed.

The Council has also introduced a Plant Variety Protection Office to safeguard plant varieties in Nigeria through intellectual property protection.

Muhammed further stressed the need to educate farmers about the benefits of improved seeds, particularly their potential to increase yields and shorten production periods.

PIND highlights seed supply challenges in the Niger Delta

PIND Executive Director Sam Ogbemi Diabo said the foundation was working to ensure farmers have access to quality seeds in the right quantities and at the right time.

He described engagement with NASC and other industry stakeholders as essential because of the Council’s responsibility for regulating the sector and ensuring seed quality.

Diabo identified several challenges in the Niger Delta, including delays between agricultural research and the commercial availability of improved seeds, inadequate investment, and weaknesses in regulation and monitoring.

These constraints have forced some farmers to multiply seeds themselves, sometimes relying on second- and third-generation planting materials.

He said the conference was intended to develop practical solutions, including recommendations on incentives that could attract investors, improve returns and make quality seeds more affordable and accessible to farmers.

Nigeria’s crop productivity linked to seed quality

The Country Director of IDH in Nigeria, Professor Eniola Fabusoro, said agricultural productivity in the country remained low, at approximately 20–30 per cent of the levels achieved in some other countries.

He cited cassava, for which Nigeria is the world’s largest producer, as an example. According to Fabusoro, Nigeria produces about 15 tonnes per hectare, compared with yields of up to 35 tonnes per hectare in countries such as Thailand and Brazil.

He attributed the productivity gap to several factors, including seed quality, farming practices, soil conditions, the wider agricultural ecosystem and investment.

Fabusoro said IDH would support market participants involved in seed development to improve yields and expand seed multiplication for smallholder farmers across Nigeria.

Stakeholders seek stronger national seed system

David Ogungbor, Director of Agri-Services, representing the Edo State Commissioner for Agriculture, said the conference should identify the production strengths of different regions and build on their respective agricultural potential.

He called for the forum’s recommendations to be presented to the Nigerian government to encourage participation by all 36 states.

The conference brought together policymakers, regulators, research institutions, seed companies, financial institutions, investors, development partners and farmer representatives.

Discussions focused on strengthening seed certification and quality assurance, improving coordination between research institutions and commercial seed producers, unlocking finance for domestic seed production, expanding distribution networks and using digital technology to improve seed traceability.

The stakeholders said coordinated implementation of these measures would be important in improving seed availability, affordability and accessibility, strengthening domestic production and supporting Nigeria’s broader food security ambitions.