The National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) has reaffirmed its commitment to driving innovation in Nigeria’s seed industry through the use of digital technology.
Speaking during a refresher training session for seed companies, licensed seed inspectors, and lead outgrowers, Director General of NASC, Fatuhu Muhammad, highlighted the strategic role of the Seed Tracker platform in strengthening the inspection and certification of crop seeds nationwide.
According to Muhammad, the platform has already gained regional traction, having been exported to Tanzania, Uganda, and Sierra Leone. He revealed that many more countries have expressed interest in adopting the technology, which has become a benchmark for seed system transparency in Africa.
“Over 52 seed companies have input data on the Seed Tracker on crops such as cassava, cowpea, yam, potato, rice, and maize,” he noted. “The platform, developed to enhance transparency and traceability in seed certification, is modernising Nigeria’s agriculture.”
As part of its strategy to improve efficiency and reduce operational bottlenecks, NASC plans to expand the use of private inspectors, reducing the workload on its officers while ensuring wider coverage and quality assurance.
Muhammad also announced ongoing strategic partnerships with international bodies, including the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), the OECD Seed Schemes, and others. These collaborations, he said, are aimed at unlocking access to global seed markets.
He emphasized Nigeria’s potential to dominate Africa’s seed market, citing the case of cowpea, a major dietary protein source. Despite its importance, the cowpea seed system has been hindered by poor storability and pest infestation. However, recent adoption of Bt cowpea, a genetically modified variety with pest resistance, is already yielding positive results.
Muhammad commended the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in the United States for supporting Nigeria’s biotechnology ecosystem through the ENCIBBS project, which has bolstered the country’s capacity in biotech research and development.
Participants at the training expressed satisfaction with the knowledge gained. Hassan Yohanna Lassa, Managing Director of Boom Seeds Nigeria Ltd, praised the Seed Tracker as a transformative tool in combating seed adulteration and improving production quality across Nigeria.
“It helps track the source and purity of seeds, promoting transparency throughout the seed value chain. We are now committed to ensuring our farmers and products are fully integrated into the platform,” he stated.
Another participant, Chukwuemeka Umeh, described the training as a major step toward modernising Nigeria’s agricultural system. “We now have the skills to detect early symptoms of seed-borne diseases and implement control measures, thanks to the digital tools and capacity-building provided,” he said.
With such initiatives, NASC is positioning Nigeria to not only achieve food security but also to become a leading hub in Africa’s evolving seed industry.