Flour Mills of Nigeria partners Corteva Agriscience for maize hybrid seed development

Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc (FMN) has announced a strategic partnership with Corteva Agriscience™, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont.

The collaboration, according to the firm, will see FMN and Corteva Agriscience™ working together on key aspects of the maize value chain in Nigeria, with a focus on promoting modern farming techniques and practices, capacity development and knowledge transfer for the local production and use of improved and quality inputs, including seeds and crop protection.

“We are excited at the prospects of this partnership, and what we can achieve,” said Chairman, FMN, John Coumantaros.
“Corteva Agriscience™ is a globally renowned company with a wealth of experience in crop protection and biotechnology solutions, and will introduce new and exciting seed production techniques that will help develop the maize hybrid seed market in Nigeria.

Over the years, FMN has invested heavily in the primary processing, aggregation and distribution of locally grown grains such as maize, soybean, rice, sorghum and wheat, and are passionate about strengthening the capabilities of small-scale farmers, even as we continue to seek out newer ways of deepening our supply chain.”

“We are currently in the sustainability testing phase for the most viable varieties suitable for this environment and envisage that the next step will be to establish in Nigeria, a world-class hybrid maize production plant,” said, FMN Group Managing Director, Paul Gbededo.

“Our business is ultimately about providing for the livelihood of millions of Nigerian families, by ensuring that they have access to great food, and as such, we are focused on building a business that caters for not just their nutritional needs but enriches their lives,” added Gbededo.

“This partnership endorses our commitment to collaboration across the food chain to transform the role of agriculture in society and enhance the livelihood of farmers in Nigeria,” said Prabdeep Bajwa, Commercial Unit Director, Africa Middle East, Corteva Agriscience™, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont.

“Our company is investing in innovation, drawing on our knowledge of genetics, chemistry and digital to give farmers in Africa more and better products and ensuring their success.”
Both companies have already started work on demonstration farm plots in Nigeria to showcase high-performing hybrid maize varieties with additional test sites expected to commence soon in Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Oyo, Nassarawa, Bauchi, Plateau States and the Federal Capital Territory.