Quality seeds vital for Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in food production -Expert 

According to an expert, Nigeria’s quest to be self-sufficient in food production will remain a mirage so long as farmers continue to plant grains as seeds.

The managing Director, ECOBasic Seeds Company Limited, Mr. Brighton Karume, said in Kaduna when interacting with a group of farmers that, “Most farmers consider purchasing seeds from accredited seed companies to be a waste of money, and unfortunately, what they plant every year and store for the next planting season is grains, the purity of which is questionable, and the germination rate cannot be guaranteed.

“It is very important to educate farmers on the differences between seeds and grains. Grains are meant to be used for food, so they are not treated and there is no need to pay attention to their germination rate. 

“On the other hand, seeds are not meant to be eaten because they are treated to protect them from diseases and pest attacks and are meant to be planted,” he added.

Karume mentioned that ECOBasic was established to bridge a vital gap in the nation’s seed sub-sector, and in its two years of operation, the company has become one to reckon with in the production of crucial foundation seeds needed by seed companies in the country to produce certified seeds for farmers.

He noted that ECOBasic Seeds Limited was established to act as a game changer for the whole of West Africa’s seed sector, and that the company had taken the task with all the seriousness it deserved.

“We are uniquely positioned to make the highest quality hybrid seeds available to seed companies for distribution to farmers. If a quarter of maize farmers in Nigeria plant hybrid seeds in the coming planting season, Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency in maize production will receive a significant boost,” he said.