“How are innovative collaborations in seed variety release influencing productivity and income for agripreneurs?”
This question highlights the Collaborative Seed Programme (CSP)’s efforts to enhance farmers’ access to high-quality seeds of improved varieties. The initiative focuses on an efficient variety release system, emphasizing that the strength of any agricultural system is its capacity to innovate, adapt, and collaborate.
As of July 2024, the National Variety Release Commission (NVRC) has registered and released 760 varieties. Prof. Olusoji Olufajo, Chairman, NVRC noted that before the CSP innovative system, the variety release system was dominated by the public sector. Now, there is increased private sector representation, and CSP innovations are creating an enabling environment for the sector and partnerships to thrive.
Diagram A: 760 crop varieties representations released up till 2024. (Source: NACGRAB, 2024)
With CSP’s influence, the committee recorded a new all-time high (ATH) in the release of new varieties in 2022, with 47 varieties, a 68% increase compared to the previous ATH of 28 varieties in 2008. As of seven months into 2024, 23 varieties have already been released.
The baseline study revealed several challenges, these findings highlighted the need for innovative solutions to enhance the variety release processes in Nigeria.
Diagram B: Bottlenecks identified in the Variety Release baseline study. (Source: Sahel Consulting, 2021)
At the second quarter webinar of 2024, hosted by the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), stakeholders explored how innovations in variety release are transforming the Nigerian seed sector. With over 200 participants, including key players from the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) and the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), the webinar highlighted strategies that are making seed release faster, more efficient and inclusive, and what this means for farmers, breeders and companies.
Innovations shaping the seed variety release system in Nigeria
Here is a dive into the innovations that are transforming the variety release system in Nigeria and what these mean to stakeholders in the industry, the innovations explore systemic and digital strategies to achieving the set goal.
Image: Systemic and digital innovations introduced in the variety release system of Nigeria through the CSP. (Source: Sahel Consulting, 2024)
These advancements are not just technical achievements, they are driving impact and creating a sustainable livelihood for the agri-community.
Benefits of Variety Release innovations for farmers, breeders and companies
For farmers: These innovations have significantly improved farmers’ access to superior crop varieties that are well-suited to their local conditions. These varieties are not only resistant to pests, diseases, and weather, but also produce higher yields. This increased productivity leads to higher incomes for farmers and enables them to meet the dynamic demands of the market better.
For breeders: The exemption of value for cultivation and use (VCU) /multilocation testing for vegetables has created an opportunity for plant breeders to invest in the development of new high-performance varieties that are adaptable to Nigeria’s ecological system. and the use of digital tools, allow breeders to focus more on developing high-performing varieties. This leads to quicker time-to-market and lower development costs, fostering a culture of innovation.
For companies: The variety release process has further strengthened market competitiveness, allowing seed companies to introduce new varieties quickly in the market and capitalize on market opportunities. This will in turn provide investment opportunities for plant breeding research and increase market profitability for companies.
Images left to right: Walter de Boef, WCDI and Prof. Olusoji Olufajo, Chairman, NVRC, during the panel discussions at the seed sector platform second quarter webinar. (Source: Sahel Consulting, 2024)
Integrating digital tools and systematic approaches in variety registration and release has improved the time to market for new varieties. This process enables the development of locally adapted varieties resilient to climate change, pests, and diseases while increasing yield and providing sustainable income for farmers. Continuous refinement and introduction of diverse varieties in the market are vital for meeting evolving farmer needs and enhancing farming experiences. Ultimately, fostering an environment conducive to public-private partnerships among smallholder farmers, breeders, researchers, and companies is essential for maintaining a productive seed value chain and achieving food security.
