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 Mr. Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Head of Information at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, on Monday in Abuja.
Ikemefuna said the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, made this known at the 2025 World Food Forum “Seeds to Foods” Exhibition held at the FAO headquarters in Rome.
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 State serving as the pilot area for implementation.
“We see great potential to scale up this initiative, not only to improve livelihoods in Borno but also 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.
When we strengthen our seeds, we strengthen our farmers. When we secure our seeds, we secure our nation’s future,” he said.
Kyari explained that 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 enhances 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, and established 14 seed multiplication plots, identifying October 15 as the optimal sowing date.
The initiative produced 7.5 tonnes of seed, including 684 kg of newly introduced legumes such as chickpea and lentil.
Kyari 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, he added, included boreholes and field equipment to enable irrigation and dry-season farming.
The minister said the Federal Government would continue to prioritize 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 ongoing gains.
Kyari said the government would continue to invest in research and development to produce climate-resilient, high-yielding crop varieties and called for stronger certification and quality assurance systems to ensure the supply of improved seeds.
He also urged greater support for institutions such as the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) to serve both national and regional markets effectively.
The minister commended Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno State for his leadership in rebuilding communities and restoring livelihoods through agriculture.
“By rebuilding communities and resettling displaced persons, Governor Zulum has shown that agriculture is a pathway to peace, stability, and dignity,” Kyari said.
He noted that 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,” he added.
Kyari commended the Governments of Türkiye and the FAO for collaborating to successfully introduce crops such as lentils, fenugreek, coriander, chickpea, black cumin, buckwheat, and dry beans in Borno State.
“These crops offer opportunities for improved nutrition, income generation, and climate resilience — representing a major step toward diversifying Nigeria’s agricultural base,” the minister said.
