Foundation equips Nigerian farmers with location-specific data on rice, cowpea varieties
By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions (FSSS) has launched a nationwide project to provide Nigerian farmers with location-specific performance data on improved rice and cowpea seed varieties to boost adoption and productivity.
The project, known as ProSev, will generate, analyse and share post-release performance data on improved crop varieties, helping farmers and other seed system actors make evidence-based decisions suited to local farming conditions.
Speaking at the project’s launch in Abuja on Thursday, the Executive Director of FSSS, Dr Isaiah Gabriel, said many Nigerian farmers struggle due to poor access to reliable information rather than lack of effort.
Across Nigeria, farmers plant seeds every season based on habit or availability, not because those seeds are best suited to their soil, climate or market,” Gabriel said, noting that uncertainty slows adoption and reduces productivity.
He explained that ProSev aims to provide clear and trustworthy answers when farmers ask which seed varieties perform best in their locations.
Our goal is to ensure farmers get the best seed for their land, not just the best seed in the world,” he said.
Gabriel added that the project would rely on collaboration among seed companies, researchers, extension services, off-takers and farmers to strengthen Nigeria’s seed system.
Also speaking, Professor Olusoji Olufaju of the National Varietal Release Committee said more than 500 crop varieties have been released in Nigeria, but adoption remains low.
He said data from the ProSev project would help guide future varietal release decisions.
The representative of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Alhaji Muhammad Ali Baba, identified weak coordination among seed developers, seed companies and extension services as a major challenge, adding that poor logistics support has limited the effectiveness of extension workers.
