The Gombe state government has lauded the Seed System Development Initiative by the Feed-the-Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity (NIAA).
The programme is being implemented by the NIAA with support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in in Adamawa, Borno, Gombe and Yobe.
The state deputy governor, Mr Manassah Jatau stated this in Gombe during the presentation of the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) certificates to Community-Based Seed Entrepreneur (CBSE) Cooperatives in the state.
Jatau said the intervention was assisting farmers to boost food production while increasing their incomes in line with the Gov. Inuwa Yahaya’s agriculture transformation agenda.
Represented by Dr Isiaku Babayo, the Special Assistant to the governor on Donor, Development and Partners Coordination, Jatau said the gesture would improve agricultural activities and enhance farmer enterprising skills.
According to him, seeds are the great determinants of harvest and adaptability to prevailing climate change.
He said since the Northeast as well as the country was being threatened by food shortage in view of the impact of insurgency, “We are happy that the USAID and IITA came with their support.
“This will subsequently promote agricultural development and food security in Gombe State and the country.
“The government and people of Gombe State are happy that you (USAID, IITA and NASC) have certified these cooperatives to produce and market certified seeds.
“This is being done in order to develop sustainable seed system in Northeast to promote agricultural development and food security; this is highly commendable,” he said.
Jatau tasked the newly certified cooperatives to step down the training in their communities, to achieve the objectives of programme towards improving yields at harvest.
He also enjoined farmers to embrace certified seeds, adding that, “it is a tool to address the threat of food shortage.”
On his part, Dr Barnabas Malle, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, said the intervention would also address farmer/herder conflicts in the state.
Malle said that improved seeds help farmers to harvest early thereby giving opportunities for the herders to graze their animals.
Dr Ishiak Khalid, the Acting Director-General, NASC, said the partnership with USAID and IITA was in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, to boost food security in the country.
Represented by Mr Sagir Yakubu, NASC’s Regional Director for the Northeast, Khalid said the seed system development was to ensure availability of certified seeds for farmers’ timely use..
He said the initiative would enhance farmer access to quality to boost their production output..
Mr Prakash Silwal, the Chief-of-Party, NIAA, said the USAID contributions to economic recovery in Northeast was making a difference.
Silwal who is also the Principal Specialist, IITA, said the interventions was a collaborative effort between USAID, IITA and NASC, designed to address the secondary impacts of conflict in the region.
“Together, we organised our beneficiary seed producers into Community-Based Seed Entrepreneur (CBSCs) Cooperatives, trained them in good agronomy practices and empowering them to elevate their status as seed enterprises.
“Through this collaboration, we facilitated their access to critical agricultural inputs, including foundation seeds from relevant research institutes, providing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and seed production with marketing technique exposures.
“We also ensured provision of extension services, mandatory monitoring visits by NASC Seed Certification Officers and ensured their seed samples underwent rigorous testing by NASC laboratory in Gombe,”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seed development programme is being implemented in Adamawa, Borno, Gombe and Yobe.
The NASC also issued certificates to 27 Gombe coopertives out of the 121 registered groups in the region. (NAN)
