The Managing Director of Agri-SeedCo Nigeria Restricted, Kolade Dada, has outlined the explanations for the low adoption of hybrid seed varieties amongst Nigerian farmers.
Hybrid seeds are developed by crossing two distinct breeding strains, representing the primary technology from this cross.
Talking with journalists in Makurdi on Wednesday, Dada defined that farmers are sometimes reluctant as a result of they’re unable to afford improved varieties from their earnings.
Dada added that farmers lack the required info on easy methods to successfully use hybrid seeds.
He stated, “The primary responsible are the farmers. Why are they not adopting the know-how? Farmers are incessantly promised that at harvest time, they are going to obtain sure advantages, however more often than not, these guarantees aren’t fulfilled.
“Typically, what they obtain is similar to their saved seeds, so why would they spend their hard-earned cash on improved varieties? They’re unwilling as a result of they see no profit. If the genetic purity is missing, farmers won’t obtain the specified outcomes.
“One other issue is cultural practices. Are farmers outfitted with the fitting info? That is essential. That is the place agronomists and extension employees play an vital position.
“Are farmers given correct steering on easy methods to use the seeds? The way to apply fertiliser? Do they perceive the consequences of weather conditions? With out this information, higher yields can’t be achieved, even with hybrid varieties.”
Discussing SEEDCO’s efforts to offer inexpensive hybrids to smallholder and business farmers, Dada stated SEEDCO has centered totally on smallholder farmers, being compassionate with pricing.
“The vast majority of farmers are smallholders, and we should be thoughtful with our costs. Solely this may allow smallholder farmers to entry our merchandise.
“What we’ve been doing consists of, before everything, localising our manufacturing. Eight years in the past, we have been importing, however we’ve since stopped as a result of importing provides to farmers’ prices.
“We additionally supply promotions, significantly throughout peak shopping for intervals. Moreover, we encourage farmers to buy earlier than cropping seasons and retailer seeds in our services for safekeeping,” he added.
He additionally highlighted SEEDCO’s assist for the federal authorities’s meals safety initiatives.
In line with him, the corporate has carried out measures to enhance the livelihoods of Nigerian farmers by rising their yields, which can, in flip, elevate their earnings.
“That is the reasoning behind our market technique. We accomplice with many pan-African agribusinesses. Our shops are open for farmer sensitisation,” Dada stated.
He emphasised the corporate’s dedication to high quality requirements for maize seed varieties by means of each inner rules and exterior oversight by the Nationwide Agricultural Seed Council.
“Our inner rules are very strict; we impose more durable requirements than these of the regulatory physique. We’ve a top quality assurance staff to make sure all processes are diligently adopted.
“This consists of making certain that detasseling, elimination, and rouging are carried out on the applicable occasions.
“Our laboratories in Harare conduct genetic exams for our merchandise, performing what we name a paternity take a look at to verify that our seeds possess the right DNA for every selection.
“We additionally keep a benchmark. In 2022, for example, we disposed of 300 metric tonnes of seed. These have been licensed seeds however scored beneath 80%, and we believed that releasing them to the market wouldn’t yield the specified outcomes for farmers. Our requirements are extra stringent than these of the regulatory physique.”