Introduction:
Nigeria, known as one of West Africa’s prominent seed producers, faces various obstacles that hinder the production and marketing of seeds. These challenges include seed insecurity, pests and diseases, climate change, and inadequate agronomic practices. To address these issues and bridge the gap in quality seed availability, the Collaborative Seed Programme partnered with the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) to organize the first quarterly platform meeting of 2023. The meeting primarily focused on boosting the potato seed sector and devising strategies to enhance seed quality.
Objectives of the Meeting:
The webinar aimed to achieve several objectives, including sharing information on the development of the Irish potato sector in Nigeria, gaining insights into factors impacting the availability and accessibility of high-quality potato seeds, and discussing strategies to close the quality seed gap. Key stakeholders gathered to exchange knowledge and experiences, with a particular emphasis on interventions implemented by the International Potato Centre (CIP) in Nigeria’s potato seed sector.
Interventions and Initiatives:
During the meeting, the keynote speaker shed light on the initiatives undertaken by the International Potato Centre, including capacity building for private seed companies and smallholder farmers, strengthening regulatory bodies involved in seed potato certification, establishing a multi-stakeholder platform, and developing a national potato strategy document set to launch in June 2023. These interventions aimed to enhance the overall capacity and expertise within the sector.
Key Recommendations:
Experts in the field emphasized several crucial recommendations to uplift Nigeria’s potato industry. They stressed the importance of empowering smallholder farmers in market-oriented production, implementing climate-smart innovations during harvest and post-harvest stages, and developing new potato varieties to ensure access to quality seeds. As Professor Chiedozie Egesi, CEO at the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), noted, ‘We need to improve productivity by getting the suitable varieties out there, as variety development is key and the beginning of any seed system or seed sector development. We should also consider expanding seed production beyond Plateau State. Cross River is a good example, and Enugu state is also planning to begin potato production because they have areas that could be done. But for Cross River, Ogbudu, we are already testing the adaptability of new varieties in Cross River State, which is what NRC is doing.’
These insights highlight the ongoing efforts to diversify seed production locations and explore the adaptability of new varieties in different regions, ultimately contributing to the growth of the potato industry in Nigeria.
Other experts present also highlighted the significance of building the capacity of extension agents and emphasized the need for tissue culture laboratories and irrigation facilities to foster the production of new potato seed varieties.
Conclusion:
The webinar served as a valuable platform to address the challenges faced by Nigeria’s potato industry. The insights and recommendations shared during the meeting have the potential to significantly improve potato yields, enhance food security through sustainable seed systems, and promote regional and international trade. The event underscored the importance of collaboration and concerted efforts among stakeholders to tackle the existing challenges and facilitate the growth of the potato industry in Nigeria. By implementing the recommended strategies and leveraging the expertise gained, Nigeria can take significant strides towards a thriving and resilient potato seed sector.
If you missed the meeting or would like to revisit the discussions, we encourage you to access the recorded session by clicking here
