PIND, NASC Secure Joint Action Agenda to Reform Nigeria’s Seed System

National forum aligns regulators, researchers, financiers and seed businesses on certification, investment, traceability and last-mile access

Stakeholders across Nigeria’s seed industry have agreed on a coordinated action agenda to strengthen certification, expand domestic seed production, unlock finance and bring quality seed closer to farmers following the Nigeria Seed Systems Forum 2026, jointly convened by the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) and the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC).

The two-day Forum, held November 10–11 in Abuja under the theme “Unlocking Nigeria’s Seed Potential: Policy Implementation, Investment and Partnerships for Sustainable Access to Quality Seed,” brought together regulators, researchers, seed companies, financial institutions, agro-dealers, extension providers, farmers’ organisations and development partners. It concluded with a communiqué outlining priority actions, responsible institutions and timelines across regulation, research commercialisation, finance, distribution and digital traceability.

Participants acknowledged progress in electronic seed certification, Plant Variety Protection, decentralised quality assurance and community-based seed production. However, high costs, limited finance, inconsistent quality, weak last-mile distribution and research-to-market gaps remain barriers to farmer access and industry growth.

In remarks delivered on his behalf by NASC’s Director of Plant Protection, Dr Okelola Folarin, NASC Director-General, Hon. Fatuhu Muhammed, said: “Farmers judge the strength of a seed system by whether they can obtain trusted seed at the right time and at a viable cost. The value of this Forum is that regulators, researchers, producers, financiers and distributors have moved beyond separate conversations to agree on practical responsibilities and a common direction.”

Muhammed called for more domestic investment in the seed system in Nigeria to reduce dependence on importation. “It boils down to investment. We need to invest in Research and development. These are things we need to do,” he said

PIND Executive Director, Mr Sam Ogbemi Daibo, said the Forum had moved the sector from repeatedly identifying problems to assigning responsibility for solutions. “A promising variety that remains in a research station cannot raise a farmer’s yield, and certified seed that does not reach the last mile cannot improve livelihoods. The real test now is whether the priorities agreed here translate into stronger enterprises, credible markets and dependable access for farmers,” Daibo said.

The Executive Secretary of the Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN), Mr Stephen Oludapo Adigun, called for affordable financing suited to the seasonal needs of seed enterprises. IDH Country Director, Prof. Enola Fabusoro, emphasised capacity development, improved seed handling and stronger partnerships to turn the Forum’s recommendations into results.
The Forum was the first major joint deliverable under the two-year Memorandum of Understanding signed by PIND and NASC on September 10, 2026. The partnership combines NASC’s regulatory leadership with PIND’s market-systems experience to expand certified seed access, strengthen local enterprises and attract investment, particularly in the Niger Delta.

During the Forum, participants examined how to remove certification bottlenecks without weakening standards, improve coordination between regulators and producers, and move breeder and foundation seed into commercial supply through licensing, technology transfer and public-private partnerships. They also called for stronger links among researchers, breeders and seed companies to commercialise improved varieties, alongside effective implementation of the National Seed Policy, stronger enforcement against counterfeit seed and improved quality assurance.

Financiers and seed enterprises considered financing models suited to the seasonal nature of seed businesses, including guarantees, insurance and technical support to make more enterprises investment-ready. Agro-dealers, extension providers, farmers’ representatives and technology companies also proposed measures to improve affordability, demand planning, farmer information and traceability.

By bringing the entire seed value chain onto one national platform, PIND and NASC have set a clearer pathway for coordinated action that protects farmers, strengthens credible seed businesses and brings trusted planting materials closer to those who need them.
—ENDS—