In view of the on-going quest to drive food security globally, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has described high quality seed as a crucial tool for food security and agricultural transformation.
According to the FAO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Louise Setshwaelo who stated this at the opening of a three-day training workshop in Jos, Plateau State, her organization had intensified efforts to boost the Nigeria seed system in order to facilitate the attainments of national food security.
The workshop which was co-organized by National Agricultural Seed Council of Nigeria (NASC) and tagged – TCP/NIR/3403 Project Strengthening National Seed System in Nigeria drew 25 participants from the Federal and State Ministries as well as seed companies across the country.
The essence of the training according to Setshwaelo was to improve the skills and efficiency of seed analysts in ensuring proper testing of seed being produced and sold to farmers. “Seeds play a fundamental role in the development of civilization by supplying food, feed natural products, and traditional medicines”, she observed.
She reminded the gathering that the most important and decisive step towards improving the livelihoods of the consumer was through the provision of high quality seed just as she described seed as the fulcrum of modern agriculture.
Outlining the focus of the workshop, the FAO Project Coordinator, Kehinde Adelegba said the training was the third of its kind designed to improve the technical competence of seed personnel from both public and private sector.
He therefore advised the participants to utilize the opportunity given not to only improve the sector but should also strive to enhance their quality control processes.
