Why OPV, Hybrid, GMO Certified Seeds Demands Surge in Nigeria, SEEDCO Boss Explains

George Okoh in Makurdi

The managing Director of Agri-SeedCo Nigeria Ltd Kolade Dada has hailed the impacts of certified seed such as the Openly Pollinated Variety(OPV), Hybrid seed and the Genetic Modified Organism, (GMO) have had on crop production on the country.

Kolade who spoke exclusively with THISDAY in Makurdi on Monday said the introduction of this seeds was capable of boosting food security in the country

He said from 2017 to 2022, government initiatives like Anchor Borrower and Growth Enhancement (GS) schemes boosted demand for certified maize seeds. However, this growth also attracted substandard seed producers, impacting farmer yields.

Despite reduced government support in 2022, demand remained robust, with a 40% increase between 2021 and 2022, he added.

“The industry has become self-regulated, driven by private players,” Dada stated. “The last 16 months have seen sustained growth, indicating a maturing market. However, this was largely driven by the public sector through Anchor Borrower and GS schemes. During these schemes, we got massive patronage. That notwithstanding, the implication was that the era produced a lot of junk players and because of that, farmers were not able to get the desired results. In 2022 when government started playing limited role in terms of support, demand maintained its pattern. From available data, there was more than 40% increase in demand 2021 and 2022. The interesting thing is that from 2023, the industry became self-regularize and today, is been championed by private players and what we have seen in the last 16 months is that the industry is experiencing steady growth, largely driven by private players”

He added that Agri-SeedCo Nigeria Ltd’s experience mirrors Nigeria’s evolving agricultural landscape, where private sector innovation and investment propel progress.

“This surge in certified seed demand underscores the importance of quality inputs for improved farmer productivity and food security in Nigeria”, he said

He disclosed that his organisation was targeting small holder farmers, adding that the bulk of the farmers are small holders and there was need to be compassionate with prices.
“Only this can allow the small holder farmers to access us. The things we are doing are; first and foremost, localise our production.8 years ago, we were importing but now we stop. Because to import is to add cost on the farmer. We also run promos mostly especially during panic buying. We also encourage farmers to buy before cropping seasons and keep in our stores for safety”.

On GMO seeds, he said there are natural evolution of seeds like GMO which is not a bad evolution; it only brings traits that protect the plant in question against certain things.
“Before any variety is released in Nigerian markets, it has to go through vigorous screening process. It is not just about yields; we also consider the disease resistance so as to be sure that the varieties delivered across the country serve the purpose. Different Hybrid have different characteristics features. They form resistance at different levels in response to stress.