The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening seed systems as part of efforts to achieve food sovereignty through agricultural programmes, policies, innovations, and global partnerships.

This was contained in a statement by Ezeaja Ikemefuna, head of information, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, on Monday in Abuja.

Mr Ikemefuna said the minister of agriculture and foodecurity, Abubakar Kyari, made this known at the 2025 World Food Forum “Seeds to Foods” exhibition held at FAO headquarters in Rome.

Mr Kyari said the FAO–Türkiye–Nigeria South–South Cooperation aims to improve dryland farming, achieve food security, reduce poverty, and enhance the availability of quality seeds.

He said the initiative also promotes global partnerships and sustainable forest management, with Borno serving as the pilot area for implementation.

“We see great potential to scale up this initiative, not only to improve livelihoods in Borno but to position Nigeria as a regional hub for high-value crop production,” Kyari said.

He added that with Nigeria’s vast arable land, entrepreneurial farmers, and the support of FAO and Türkiye, the country can unlock new markets and drive inclusive agricultural growth.

“This partnership stands as proof of vision in action, transforming ideas into impact and policy into progress,” the minister said.

“When we strengthen our seeds, we strengthen our farmers. When we secure our seeds, we secure our nation’s future,” he added.

Mr Kyari said the programme focuses on introducing new crop varieties, training farmers, and building infrastructure such as irrigation systems to support dry-season farming.

According to him, the project aims to enhance food security and resilience through knowledge exchange and collaboration between participating countries.

He said the project introduced 10 Turkish crop varieties and five Nigerian ones, conducted 219 field demonstrations, 14 seed multiplication plots, and identified Oct. 15 as the optimal sowing date.

Mr Kyari said the project produced 7.5 tonnes of seed, including 684 kg of newly introduced legumes such as chickpea and lentil.

He said 186 participants, including 55 women, benefited from training and exchange visits to Türkiye on seed processing, value addition, and post-harvest handling.

“Infrastructure support included boreholes and field equipment to enable irrigation and dry-season farming,” the minister said.

Mr Kyari said the federal government would continue to prioritise a resilient and competitive seed system as part of Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda.

“Our pursuit of food sovereignty depends on the strength of the systems we build and the consistency of our actions,” he said.

He stressed the need for policies that encourage transparency, innovation, and private sector participation to sustain the gains achieved.

Mr Kyari said the government would continue to invest in research and development to produce climate-resilient, high-yielding crop varieties.

He also called for stronger certification and quality assurance systems to ensure the supply of improved and certified seeds.

Mr Kyari urged support for institutions such as the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) to serve national and regional markets effectively.

The minister commended Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno for his leadership in rebuilding communities and restoring livelihoods.

“By rebuilding communities and resettling displaced persons, Governor Zulum has shown that agriculture is a pathway to peace, stability, and dignity,” Kyari said.

He said the Mohammed Lawan College of Agriculture, Maiduguri, benefited from technical assistance in extension services, crop monitoring, and knowledge exchange.

“This partnership demonstrates the power of South–South Cooperation in strengthening institutions and fostering innovation,” the minister said.

Mr Kyari commended the Government of Türkiye and FAO for the collaboration that successfully introduced crops such as lentils, fenugreek, coriander, chickpea, black cumin, buckwheat, and dry beans in Borno.

“These crops offer opportunities for improved nutrition, income generation, and climate resilience, representing a major step toward diversifying Nigeria’s agricultural base,” he said. 

(NAN)