IITA, NASC sign MoU on seed development in Northeast Nigeria

IITA–CGIAR and Nigeria’s National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support sustainable seed production and supply in Northeast Nigeria using the Community-Based Seed Enterprise (CBSE) model under the USAID-funded Feed-the-Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity (IAA).

At the signing ceremony in Abuja, IAA Chief of Party Prakash Kant Silwal, who signed the agreement on behalf of IITA, highlighted the Institute’s achievements in ensuring food security through the unwavering support of USAID in the Northeast.

He said over 60,000 smallholder farmers had been trained in climate-smart and good agricultural practices in Adamawa and Borno states.

“With the expansion of the Activity to Gombe and Yobe states, IITA will be collaborating with NASC to develop modules and organize training for 2,250 Community-Based Seed Entrepreneurs (CBSEs) and partner seed companies in the four intervention states on improved seed production and marketing techniques,” he said.

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