NIGERIA – Seed Co, a developer of certified hybrid crop seeds, has concluded plans to introduce into the market hybrid seeds for wheat, millet, fruits, and vegetables which are climate-smart and disease-tolerant, in Kaduna.
Kolade Dada, the company’s Managing Director, revealed this at the company’s recently held 2022–2023 grand finale, which featured a display of its products.
Agric regulatory organizations, community leaders, and farmers among others attended the event held at the company’s premises in the southern portion of the state capital.
According to Dada, Nigeria might reach the level of cultivating six metric tonnes of maize, rice, and other essential goods per hectare with technology-driven farming methods, notably the adoption of hybrid seeds.
“What we have done here today is to exhibit our high bumper products produced with our hybrid seeds which will impact positively on the nation’s efforts of becoming a good sufficient country.
“We are also diversifying our products which include commercial crops such as soybean, rice, wheat, sorghum, fruits, and vegetables, leveraging technology and investing in cold room storage facilities for effective seed storage,” he said.
He bemoaned the nation’s current average of 2.2 metric tons per hectare, noting that this is a pitiful amount when compared to other countries like South Africa, which has an average of 7 metric tons per hectare.
He ascribed the poor performance, among other things, to instability, farmers’ tardy adoption of hybrid seeds, and agricultural companies’ lack of availability of long-term loans.
The agriculturist expressed hope, however, that Nigeria would eventually develop into a major food exporter due to the seed production industry’s determination to incorporate technology and new methods of enhancing seed performance.
He stated that Seed Co had toured around 17 states connecting farmers to how best they can upwardly boost their products using their hybrid seeds, reports Daily Trust.
The aim, he said, was to convince more farmers to adopt the company’s methods to increase their livelihoods in the face of difficult terrain and harsh climatic conditions which are unfavorable to the storage of seeds.
“It is our pleasure to introduce to Nigerian farmers seeds that are resistant to harsh climate and could yield beyond expectations.
“We have adopted the use of renewable energy like the solar in our plants to reduce our carbon imprints and its effects on global warming so we could contribute our quota in ensuring a safer and friendly environment for food production,” he assured.
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