• As Council commences training for farmers, seed companies, others

In a bid to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), has launched a cutting-edge Seed Information Management Portal. This innovative digital solution promises to revolutionize the seed sector, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and productivity for farmers, seed companies, and regulatory bodies.

The development came to light at a recent capacity-building workshop held n Abuja, convened by the council to train key stakeholders on its operationalization and management. The event tagged “Training on the Operationalization and Management of the NASC Seed Information Management Portal (NSIMP)”, brought together about 70 participants, comprising seed industry professionals, companies, seed council staffs, and farmers from different states and zones, to be preempted, trained to explore the portal’s vast potential.

Streamlining Seed Sector Operations, Dr. Ishiak Khalid, NASC’s Director General, represented by Towolawi Oluwole, Director of Seed Information, Data Management, and Capacity Building. emphasized the portal’s critical role in managing the council’s information system. “The portal enables us to collate, and coordinate data from partners, agencies, seed companies, and farmers, providing valuable insights for more informed and harmonized decision-making,” he explained.

The portal’s integrated platform harmonizes disparate data sources, including seed trackers, codex, and other systems. This centralized approach facilitates real-time feedback from stakeholders, empowering the Seed Council to track industry trends, identify challenges, and respond effectively, according to Oluwole.

Also, Dr. Folarin Sunday Okelola, Ag Registrar of Plant Variety Protection (PVP) and Project Manager for the Agra grant, underscored the workshop’s significance.

He said; “Our goal is to build capacity for planning and coordinating the seed system, ensuring we meet Nigeria’s seed demand and harmonizing the whole process.”

“To effectively plan and coordinate our seed sector activities, we require accurate and timely data. This necessitates the integration of technology and electronic systems to enhance our traditional information gathering methods.

“Today, we proudly putting out our Seed Information Management Portal, a comprehensive platform that consolidates our existing tools, including the Seed Tracker and Seed Codex, into a single, user-friendly management information system.

“This innovative portal, accessible via web or Android, enables us to reach all stakeholders, regardless of category, and provides a streamlined approach to seed sector management.” He added.

The NASC Seed Portal is designed to benefit all stakeholders ranging from farmers, granting them an access to quality seeds, improved crop yields, and enhanced livelihoods, seed companies, ensuring efficient production, distribution, and sales tracking, regulatory bodies through an enhanced oversight, real-time monitoring, and informed decision-making.

By integrating comprehensive data management, analytics, and support tools, the portal aligns with the Critical Components of a Functional Seed System, as defined by CESSA. This ensures quality, accessibility, and sustainability in agricultural sector.

Please note that CESSA’s Critical Components of a Functional Seed System are quality seeds, seed availability, quality control, information management, policy & regulation, research & development, production & distribution, marketing & Sales.

Perhaps this will herald a new era for Nigeria’s Agriculture. NASC as a council, embracing digital innovation, through this groundbreaking portal will boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and support economic growth.

As the management training concludes Friday, participants are equipped to leverage the portal’s potential, ensuring a brighter future for Nigeria’s farmers, seed companies, and agricultural sector.

“This portal is a game-changer,” Dr. Okelola further opined. He reiterated that the council is committed to revolutionizing Nigeria’s seed sector, and the recent development is just the beginning.

Optimism high up, that with NASC’s Seed Information Management Portal, Nigeria’s agricultural landscape is set to flourish, harnessing technology to drive growth, productivity, and prosperity.