NASC Unveils New Policy For Early Generation Seeds To Boost Agriculture

The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) has introduced a new policy framework for Early Generation Seeds (EGS) production in Nigeria, aimed at strengthening the seed system and ensuring farmers’ access to high-quality seeds.

NASC Director General, Dr. Ishiak Othman Khalid, announced the policy during a press briefing in Abuja to mark the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Nigeria’s Seed System—50 years since the country formally established organized seed production in 1975.

Key Reforms in the New EGS Policy

1. Accreditation of Producers – Only licensed public and private entities will be permitted to produce and commercialize EGS.
2. Mandatory EGS Reporting – Certified seed companies must procure EGS from accredited producers and report transactions to NASC.
3. Re-accreditation of NARIs and Private Sector Spin-offs – National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) will have formalized licensing agreements with private firms to enhance coordination.
4. Technology-Driven Seed Tracking – NASC will enforce the use of digital platforms such as National Seed Tracker, NASC SeedCodex, and Naija SeedConnect for better seed traceability, transparency, and demand forecasting.
5. Implementation of the Plant Variety Protection (PVP) System – As a member of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties (UPOV), Nigeria will incentivize plant breeding innovations to ensure farmers have access to high-yielding, drought-resistant, and disease-tolerant seeds.

Dr. Khalid emphasized that inefficiencies such as weak regulation, poor private sector participation, and inadequate coordination have hampered progress since the liberalization of foundation seed production in 2011.

The reforms are backed by government agencies, private seed companies, development organizations, and international partners like AGRA and the Gates Foundation, which have played a crucial role in shaping Nigeria’s seed industry.

To track progress, NASC will also institutionalize an EGS Annual Data Collection Survey to evaluate policy effectiveness and guide decision-making.

Dr. Khalid urged all stakeholders including research institutes, seed producers, and the media to support these reforms, quoting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu:

“Plant good seeds and feed the entire nation.”

“These policies will foster transparency, competitiveness, and accountability among seed producers. By leveraging technology and collaboration, we will ensure Nigerian farmers have access to only the best seeds, supporting food security and agricultural transformation,” he added.