Nigeria’s efforts to improve livestock nutrition and strengthen food production received a boost on Wednesday as the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) and the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) entered into a strategic partnership focused on forage seed development.
The partnership was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja, where officials from the livestock, research, and seed regulation sectors gathered to outline plans for improving forage research, seed quality control, commercial production, and sustainable feed supply for livestock farmers across the country.
Among dignitaries present at the ceremony were the Director General of NASC, Honourable Fatuhu Muhammed; Senior Adviser to the Minister of Livestock Development, Professor E.A. Iyayi; and the Executive Director of NAPRI, Professor M.R. Hassan.
Participants at the event described the collaboration as an important response to the recurring problems of inadequate forage supply, declining pasture quality, and poor livestock feeding systems in Nigeria.
Under the collaboration, NAPRI will focus on research and the development of improved forage varieties suitable for different ecological regions in the country, while NASC will handle seed certification, quality assurance, standards enforcement, and regulatory supervision.
The initiative will also support the integration of forage seed systems into NASC’s digital platforms to improve seed traceability, e-certification, and data management. In addition, the partnership includes plans for technical training, extension support, and capacity building for researchers and seed producers nationwide.
Stakeholders expressed confidence that the collaboration would improve forage seed access, strengthen livestock productivity, and contribute to national food security and economic development.
