The Managing Director of Agri-SeedCo Nigeria Limited, Kolade Dada, has outlined the reasons for the low adoption of hybrid seed varieties among Nigerian farmers.
Hybrid seeds are developed by crossing two distinct breeding lines, representing the first generation from this cross.
Speaking with journalists in Makurdi on Wednesday, Dada explained that farmers are often reluctant because they are unable to afford improved varieties from their earnings.
Dada added that farmers lack the necessary information on how to effectively use hybrid seeds.
He said, “The first to blame are the farmers. Why are they not adopting the technology? Farmers are frequently promised that at harvest time, they will receive certain benefits, but most of the time, these promises are not fulfilled.
“Often, what they receive is comparable to their saved seeds, so why would they spend their hard-earned money on improved varieties? They are unwilling because they see no benefit. If the genetic purity is lacking, farmers will not achieve the desired results.
“Another factor is cultural practices. Are farmers equipped with the right information? This is crucial. This is where agronomists and extension workers play an important role.
“Are farmers given proper guidance on how to use the seeds? How to apply fertiliser? Do they understand the effects of climatic conditions? Without this knowledge, better yields cannot be achieved, even with hybrid varieties.”
Discussing SEEDCO’s efforts to provide affordable hybrids to smallholder and commercial farmers, Dada said SEEDCO has focused primarily on smallholder farmers, being compassionate with pricing.
“The majority of farmers are smallholders, and we need to be considerate with our prices. Only this will enable smallholder farmers to access our products.
“What we have been doing includes, first and foremost, localising our production. Eight years ago, we were importing, but we have since stopped because importing adds to farmers’ costs.
“We also offer promotions, particularly during peak buying periods. Additionally, we encourage farmers to purchase before cropping seasons and store seeds in our facilities for safekeeping,” he added.
He also highlighted SEEDCO’s support for the federal government’s food security initiatives.
According to him, the company has implemented measures to improve the livelihoods of Nigerian farmers by increasing their yields, which will, in turn, raise their earnings.
“This is the reasoning behind our market strategy. We partner with many pan-African agribusinesses. Our outlets are open for farmer sensitisation,” Dada said.
He emphasised the company’s commitment to quality standards for maize seed varieties through both internal regulations and external oversight by the National Agricultural Seed Council.
“Our internal regulations are very strict; we impose tougher standards than those of the regulatory body. We have a quality assurance team to ensure all processes are diligently followed.
“This includes ensuring that detasseling, removal, and rouging are performed at the appropriate times.
“Our laboratories in Harare conduct genetic tests for our products, performing what we call a paternity test to confirm that our seeds possess the correct DNA for each variety.
“We also maintain a benchmark. In 2022, for instance, we disposed of 300 metric tonnes of seed. These were certified seeds but scored below 80%, and we believed that releasing them to the market would not yield the desired results for farmers. Our standards are more stringent than those of the regulatory body.”