IITA, NASC sign MoU on seed development in Northeast Nigeria

IITA–CGIAR and Nigeria’s National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support sustainable seed production and supply in Northeast Nigeria using the Community-Based Seed Enterprise (CBSE) model under the USAID-funded Feed-the-Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity (IAA).

Chief of Party (NIAA), Prakash Kant Silwal and the Director-General (NASC) during the signing.

At the signing ceremony in Abuja, IAA Chief of Party Prakash Kant Silwal, who signed the agreement on behalf of IITA, highlighted the Institute’s achievements in ensuring food security through the unwavering support of USAID in the Northeast.

He said over 60,000 smallholder farmers had been trained in climate-smart and good agricultural practices in Adamawa and Borno states.

″With the expansion of the Activity to Gombe and Yobe states, IITA will be collaborating with NASC to develop modules and organize training for 2,250 Community-Based Seed Entrepreneurs (CBSEs) and partner seed companies in the four intervention states on improved seed production and marketing techniques,″ he said.

On his part, NASC Director-General Dr Phillip Ojo said the relationship between the two organizations is a long-standing one.

Staff of NIAA and NASC during the MoU signing.

″We have both collaborated in different ways. Now, we are joining forces to help support 2,250 Community-Based Seed Entrepreneurs. We will also work on improving smallholder farmers’ access to certified seeds in Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, and Yobe states. The goal will be to contribute to increasing their yield and income,″ he explained.

The MoU will take immediate effect and elapse by 31 December 2024. Apart from the partnership increasing production, availability, and timely access to quality seeds for smallholder farmers, it will also strengthen access to inputs and market linkages along the seed agricultural value chains that would result in increased income among farmers and improved nutrition status of households among consumers.