The Federal Government has reaffirmed its determination to achieve food sovereignty by strengthening Nigeria’s seed systems through innovative agricultural policies, research, and international partnerships.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made this known at the 2025 World Food Forum “Seeds to Foods” exhibition held at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome.
Speaking on Nigeria’s collaboration with the FAO–Türkiye–Nigeria South–South Cooperation initiative, Kyari said the project is focused on improving dryland farming, promoting sustainable forest management, and enhancing the availability of quality seeds with Borno State serving as the pilot location.
“We see great potential to scale up this initiative, not only to improve livelihoods in Borno but to position Nigeria as a regional hub for high-value crop production,” the minister stated.
He explained that the collaboration underscores Nigeria’s commitment to advancing agricultural resilience through knowledge sharing, innovation, and sustainable infrastructure development, including irrigation systems for dry-season farming.
According to Kyari, the project has introduced 10 Turkish and five Nigerian crop varieties, conducted 219 field demonstrations and 14 seed multiplication plots, and produced 7.5 tonnes of seed, including 684 kilograms of new legumes such as chickpea and lentil.
He added that 186 participants, including 55 women benefited from technical training and exchange visits to Türkiye, covering seed processing, value addition, and post-harvest handling. In addition, boreholes and field equipment were provided to support irrigation and dry-season farming.
“When we strengthen our seeds, we strengthen our farmers. When we secure our seeds, we secure our nation’s future,” Kyari emphasized.
He reaffirmed that the Federal Government would continue to prioritise the development of a resilient, competitive, and transparent seed system as a core part of Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda.
“Our pursuit of food sovereignty depends on the strength of the systems we build and the consistency of our actions,” he noted, while calling for stronger certification and quality assurance frameworks to ensure the supply of improved and certified seeds nationwide.
Kyari also urged continued support for institutions such as the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) to enable them to serve both national and regional markets effectively.
The minister commended Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State for demonstrating how agriculture can serve as a pathway to peace and stability through community rebuilding and livelihood restoration.
He further lauded the FAO and the Government of Türkiye for their role in introducing crops such as lentils, chickpeas, coriander, fenugreek, buckwheat, black cumin, and dry beans in Borno State — a move he described as a milestone for food diversification, improved nutrition, and climate resilience.
“This partnership stands as proof of vision in action, transforming ideas into impact and policy into progress,” Kyari said.
