AFAN Seeks Improved Quality of Seeds for Smallholder Farmers

Dr Femi Oke, the Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos State Chapter, has expressed worry over the substandard quality and inadequate varieties of seeds available to smallholder farmers during the planting season. Oke told newsmen on Thursday in Lagos that both the Federal and state governments needed to establish more seeds companies in order to produce new seeds in the country. He said that smallholder farmers were planting old seeds in the new farming season, adding that the old seeds would produce small yields while harvesting. He said that the unavailability of new seeds would affect food production. He said that due to the COVID-19 lockdown, most of the available seed companies were affected by restriction of movement and unable to produce new seeds. He added that none of the seed companies was operational leaving farmers to no other options than to purchase the old seeds from the markets. He said that the government should come to the aid of farmers by establishing more seed companies to drive new varieties and innovations in seed production. According to him, seeds are a major problem confronting farmers though the government is carrying out research to get us better seed, we have not seen it. “A good seed will give farmers more yields, which will in turn gives more profits. Farmers are planting old seeds, which means, we will be expecting low yields during harvest. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is only the old seeds that had been produced that everybody is now rushing to buy because all the companies that are supposed to produce the new seeds can not. “They were all affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. None of the seed companies opened during the lockdown period to work. “This is now another problem for we farmers,” he said. Oke urged the Federal and state governments to establish more seed companies and also facilitate research in agricultural institutions for new varieties. “We want government to come to our aid in this regard. We are appealing to the Lagos State Government to provide a bulldozer and a tractor for us to boost food production and security in the state. “We want all NGOs working as farmers’ association to come together and provide food for all Nigerians. “We want government to provide grants to farmers to support them because COVID-19 pandemic has affected many of them ,” he said.   Source: VON