'Sign Seed Bill to rescue Nigerian Farmers'

President Muhammadu Buhari

By EDDY OCHIGBO

Farmers in Nigeria and critical stakeholders in the nation's agricultural sector have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the National Agricultural Seeds Council(NASC) Amendment Bill, towards taking agriculture to the next level in the country.

Speaking during the week, at a one-day strategy session in Abuja, put together by the National Agricultural Seeds Advocacy Group (NASAG) in collaboration with Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn(PERL-ECP), NASC's Director-General, Dr Olusegun Ojo, said the call for the president to sign the Seed Bill became necessary because access to quality seeds of improved crop variety would no doubt go a long way in enhancing and sustaining agricultural productivity and food security to compliment the on-going efforts by the Buhari administration to diversify the economy.

"The general decline in growth rate of agriculture's contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) from 4.27% in 2014 to 3.72% in 2015 also impacted on the decline in certified seed production from 178,039 metric tonnes produced in 2014 to 123,597 metric tonnes recorded in 2015", Dr Ojo stated, explaining that the decline could be attributed to farmer's inability to access quality seeds.

While maintaining that for the council to effectively sanitize the seed industry and rid the market of the sale of fake, adulterated and poor quality seeds, the NASC Amendment Bill currently awaiting the president's assent, when signed into law, would streamline and strengthen the sector for accelerated economic growth, the DG commended the efforts of stakeholders and development partners for the sustained quality seeds campaign in the country.

Also speaking at the event, an official of the council, Mr Charles Onwuka jr. regretted that despite Nigeria's acclaimed position as the giant of Africa, it was still not among the top ten African countries which are food secured on the continent. He contended that lack of access to quality seeds remains one of the greatest setbacks to farmers in the country.

The Seed Bill when into law shall among other things, empower the council to: effectively analyze and formulate programs, policies and actions regarding seed development and the seed industry in general, including research on issues relating to seed testing, registration, release, production, marketing, distribution, certification, quality control, supply and use of seeds in Nigeria, importation and exportation of seeds; design improved management system and procedure relating to administration of seed activity; and approve policies and strategies to protect small seed producers, local varieties and to promote quality seed production as the case may be.

At the end of the engagement stakeholders agreed and adopted actionable strategies, developed an advocacy brief and launched the social media campaign with the hashtag #SignSeedsBill.

Comments

NEWS FEATURE: Governor el-Rufai and the Sanctity of the Ballot

el-Rufai: Voting at his polling unit BY NASIRU JAGABA F irst of all, let me start by congratulating the Citizens of Kaduna State, for violence free election in the local government polls. The peaceful conduct of the citizens in Kaduna despite the happenings that had shown clearly the desperation of persons in the corridor of power to manipulate, overturn the result refused to give in to the chaos but rather responded with all sense of maturity and confidence in the sanctity of the ballot. Had Kaduna responded in similar desperation as shown by the institutional riggers, perhaps curfew would have been slammed in several areas which would have created the perfect cover for the malpractices to happen. The hate speeches and incitement from the top government officials in Kaduna state government did not end on the platforms for the campaigns alone but went further to reflect in the exercise that held. There are several accounts going round about thugs accompanying some of

'Terrorists are all over, not only Southern Kaduna'

-Governor Nasir el-Rufai el-Rufai addressing Journalists in Hausa after a security meeting on Southern Kaduna By DANGWA DANJUMA G overnor Ahmed Nasir el-Rufai has admitted that terrorists are everywhere in Kaduna state, not only in the troubled Southern Kaduna, disclosing that miscreants have taken to the social media space to promote what he called disturbing and further aggravating the worsening situation situation with religious and ethnic colouration. Speaking to newsmen in Hausa, after a meeting with security officials, el-Rufai said that miscreants from Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and outside Nigeria are trying to insinuate that the Southern Kaduna killings is ethnic and religious even going as far as asking people to take the law into their hands. While maintaining that these people would be brought to book, he tasked traditional leaders, religious leaders and political office holders in the state to speak the truth about the happenings as failing to do so wo

Kaduna IDPs cry out over Deplorable Conditions

By DANGWA DANJUMA L ack of basic education, sanitation, healthcare facilities and access to portable water supply have hit Gwagwada, a host community camping over 300 households displaced from fifteen villages in Chikun Local Council of the state. Speaking at the flag off of relief materials distribution for the internally displaced persons (IDPs), the Village Head of Gadani, Mr Bitrus Tsauri disclosed: “Since they arrived, the wells which have been the sure source of water for several households in the community have dried up; the solar powered borehole is only providing drips of water necessitating most residents to seek drinking water from streams. Our two public primary schools and healthcare facility are currently inadequate and may be unsafe, especially with the coronavirus pandemic that Kaduna state is still counting cases”. He confirmed that those who can farm, have been provided land to start over again; there is still the worry however, for those who are unable to farm due t

Jagaba on Gov el-Rufai's 2020 Budget

Fallout of lopsided implementation of state budget in the education sector By Nasiru Jagaba j agabanasiru@gmail.com L et me start by commending the Governor of Kaduna state for being consistent in maintaining the January to December budget year. This provides some high level of fiscal and economic sustainability in the State. My commendation may come as a surprise to many who know that I have been a consistent critic of his government as the national youth Leader (out-going now) of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU). My stand has not changed as I remain a dogged fighter of injustice regardless of its form of manifestation. However, in analyzing governance, one must uphold a higher level of objectivity by appreciating progress (no matter how small) while fighting for fairness, equity and justice. That aside, I have committed myself to tracking governance in Kaduna state and Nigeria to ensure that the right of citizens to deve

Kaduna's 'Comprehensive Urban Renewal Programme'

A comprehensive roads-repairs-and-rehabilitation programme has reached an advanced stage to address the worrisome condition of urban and sub-urban roads in Kaduna state, as part of a renewed and systematic approach of the Kaduna State Roads Agency (KADRA) to deliver dividends of democracy. KADRA’s Managing Director, Engr Lawal Mohammed Magaji who made this known in his office, in a chat with correspondents and leading members of the civil society who paid him a courtesy visit to be abreast of operations and the workings of KADRA revealed that the agency has bought into Commitment 2 of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), of the Governor el-Rufai-led administration, which has to do with openness and transparency. “ I am very delighted by your visit. I used to have a wrong impression of some civil society organizations. Initially I thought civil societies were there to confront government and fine fault where there is none. I now think differently, especially given the great

Cubinks NEWS

Search This Blog