The Managing Director of EcoBasic Seed, Temidayo Owoeye, has said increased adoption of hybrid seeds by Nigerian farmers could significantly boost agricultural productivity and accelerate the country’s drive towards food security.
Owoeye said access to quality hybrid seeds, combined with modern farming practices, could substantially improve farmers’ yields, while urging policymakers to pay greater attention to the agricultural sector because of its potential to create jobs for the country’s growing youth population.
He spoke in Kaduna during a field demonstration of TELA maize, where farmers and other agricultural stakeholders were exposed to the benefits of improved seed varieties and modern agricultural practices.
According to him, farmers who adopt quality hybrid seeds are already positioned to achieve a significant proportion of their potential yields, particularly when the seeds are combined with appropriate agronomic practices.
“With hybrid seeds, the farmer could be said to have acquired over 50 per cent of his yields and harvest,” Owoeye said, stressing the importance of quality seeds in improving agricultural efficiency.
He also assured farmers and consumers of the safety of the genetically modified TELA maize, saying improved seed technology could help farmers overcome challenges associated with pests, drought and low productivity.
Owoeye said EcoBasic Seed would continue to collaborate with agricultural scientists through research and innovation to develop improved seed varieties capable of delivering higher yields and contributing to the development of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
He further called for greater investment in agriculture, particularly in making quality seeds, fertiliser, farm implements and technical expertise readily accessible and affordable to farmers.
Also speaking, a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Haruna Barnabas, said he would take the knowledge gained from the field demonstration to his constituents to encourage greater adoption of quality seeds and modern farming techniques.
Barnabas, who represents Kauru/Chawai Constituency, commended the Kaduna State Government under Governor Uba Sani for providing farm inputs and implements to farmers, saying the interventions would help increase agricultural production and improve earnings across the value chain.
The lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on Health, also pledged to collaborate with the House Committee on Agriculture to support farmer-friendly legislation aimed at making agriculture more attractive to young people.
The Commercial Manager, EcoBasic Seed West Africa, Moses Atewogboye, urged farmers to embrace certified quality seeds to maximise yields, assuring them of the company’s continued technical support to certified seed companies.
The event featured a competition among participants as well as a tour of the TELA hybrid maize demonstration field.
