Roles of value-chain actors in quality seed delivery in Nigeria

The Nigerian government established the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) saddled with the responsibility of regulating the seed industry in the country among others. The study assessed the roles of different actors along the seed system value-chain towards the delivery of quality seed in Nigeria. Data were collected from breeders, out-growers, seed companies, agro-dearlers and farmers. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Logit regression model. Forty percent of the breeders had license agreement with seed companies for seed production. There were no seed testing laboratories close to 40% of the breeders. All the selected seed companies were registered with NASC. About 45% of the seed companies reported that their fields were visited during all the stages of production and 50% sell their left over  seeds as grains. Some former out-growers independently produce seeds for farmers as certified seeds. This may be a source of poor quality seeds. Seed companies most times fail to buy all seeds produced by out-growers and delayed payment was also reported. Some out-growers store both crop seeds and agro-chemicals together. About half of the crop farmers plant from previous year harvest with implications on seed quality. Logit estimation revealed that education and extension contact significantly determined the use of NASC seedcodex label for seed authentication by farmers. The needs for adequate funding of breeding activities; governments to buy off left-over seeds from out-growers; enlightenment for other seed value chain actors on safe handling of seeds and the need to plant certified seeds were recommended.