Nigeria needs $450million (about N16.1billion) investment in national seeds supply to enhance agricultural production to guarantee sufficient food security, Access to Seeds Foundation Index 2019, has said.
The study, published by the Amsterdam-based Access to Seeds Foundation, evaluates the activities of global seed companies to shine a light on where the industry can do more to raise smallholder farmer productivity, improve nutrition and mitigate the effects of climate change through the development and dissemination of quality seed.
Speaking in Lagos, while launching The Access to Seeds Index for Western and Central Africa, its Executive Director, Ido Verhagen said Nigeria’s seeds production currently stands at 80,000 metric tons yearly, while the economy requires 400,000 metric tons,revealing significant gap in supply.
The global seed industry, he added, is valued at $50 billion, but said Africa’s contribution to the volume represents a minimal two per cent.
