Some agriculture experts have urged the Federal Government to provide hybrid seedlings to farmers as interventions in order to ensure food security.
The experts made the call in separate interviews on Thursday in Lagos.
The Chairman Tomatoes Growers Association Kaduna State, Mr Rabiu Zuntu appealed to the government to provide hybrid seedlings to local farmers because of their disease and weather resistant nature.
“We want the government to give hybrid seeds as palliatives to farmers rather than the open pollinated seeds.
“Farmers hardly have the financial capacity to buy hybrid seeds which are most times disease and pest resistant.
“Most times, a sachet of hybrid seeds costs more than N10, 000 and to cultivate an hectare of land, a farmer needs up to N200, 000 to N300, 000 per hectare.
“Due to this, a lot of farmers cannot afford so have to cultivate the open-pollinated seeds which cannot resist pest infestation as we are currently facing with the ‘Tuta Aboluta’ on tomatoes.
“Hybrid seedlings are more climate change resistant and can endure through any weather or temperature conditions.
“Hybrid seedlings should be given to farmers as interventions; if we continue with the open pollinated varieties, the interventions will not yield any tangible results.
“Climate change is really affecting crop cultivation especially tomatoes, hence open pollinated seeds cannot survive the hardship of the weather.
“From the flowering stage, some of these crops just die off,” he said.
On his part, Dr Ismail Olawale, a strategic agriculture communication expert, called for caution in the full adoption of hybrid seedlings.
“The appeal to the government from the farmers to be provided with hybrid seeds is not going to be a one-stop solution.
“It will help increase productivity but however it comes with its challenges; the question is whether consumers more comfortable with hybrid produce.
“Will taste disparity in the hybrid produce be acceptable to the ultimate consumers?
“The farmers should not just call for improved production through hybrid seeds but should consider all factors connected to it.”
He urged lesser dependence on hybrid seedlings but sustainable solutions to ensuring food security in the country.
“The farmers should not just seek a one-time solution to problems; what is the sustainability of hybrid seeds; can it be replanted after harvest?
“If the government provides the seeds this year, will the government be willing to give for the next planting season?
“How can the farmers sustain the procurement of these hybrid seeds?” he queried.
NAN
