World Food Day: Agric Stakeholders Decry Overdependence On Foreign Seeds

Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have expressed concern over Nigeria’s growing dependence on foreign seeds, warning that it could undermine the country’s food sovereignty.

They therefore called for increased investment in local seed production, organic farming and household food cultivation.

The stakeholders made their position known during a media engagement to mark this year’s World Food Day at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja yesterday.

They urged Nigerians to take greater responsibility for food production through the “Let’s Go Planting” initiative.

The event was organised by the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR), in conjunction with the Loveworld Ministry of Food Technology and Sovereignty.

Speaking at the event, the executive director of CAfPRA and deputy director of CEFSAR, Segun Adebayo, warned that a country could have food available for consumption but still lack food sovereignty if it depended heavily on external

suppliers for the seeds required to sustain agricultural production.

Adebayo said excessive reliance on imported seeds, especially varieties that could not be replanted after harvest posed potential risks to the nation’s long-term food security, especially in the event of disruptions to international supply chains.

He called for greater investment in locally produced, regenerative seeds that farmers could preserve and replant, stressing that the ability to control seed production was fundamental to building a resilient and self-sustaining food system.

“Everybody must eat. Food is not discriminatory. But we have to be very careful about what we eat because what we eat matters a great deal,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to embrace household food production by cultivating vegetables, fruits and other food crops in their backyards, gardens, schools and other available spaces.

Adebayo insisted that food production should not be regarded as the exclusive responsibility of commercial farmers as individuals, families, schools and communities could contribute to reducing hunger and improving access to nutritious food.

“Let’s Go Planting is not just a slogan; it is a call to action,” he said, calling on Nigerians to translate discussions about food security into practical efforts to grow their own food.

The director, Department of Agriculture at the Loveworld Ministry of Food Technology and Sovereignty, Tom Obiazi, raised concern over the use of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals.

He called for farming practices that protect soil health, the environment and human wellbeing.

Obiazi argued that agricultural development should not be measured solely by increased yields but should also take into account the long-term implications of farming methods for food safety and environmental sustainability.

The director advocated greater attention to organic farming and the adoption of appropriate alternatives that could reduce dependence on potentially harmful agricultural chemical.

Also speaking, the chief executive officer of Women Food, Juliet Okumoku Eniakor, stressed the importance of access to quality organic seeds for the improvement of food production and safety.

Eniakor noted that her company prioritised organic seeds for farmers supplying its food-processing operations, saying the ‘Let’s Go Planting’ initiative offered an opportunity to educate Nigerians on sustainable agricultural practices and healthier food choices.

Similarly, Ifeanyi Nwaokolo who represented the Loveworld Ministry of Food Sovereignty, called for stronger collaboration among farmers, researchers, investors, food processors and distributors to develop a more sustainable and resilient food system.

Nwaokolo stressed the need to make different seed varieties available to farmers, particularly varieties that could be replanted after harvest, to reduce dependence on external suppliers and strengthen local agricultural capacity.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Chike Okafor, said lawmakers remain committed to tackling malnutrition and strengthening Nigeria’s food and nutrition security framework.

Represented by the committee’s clerk, Agenti Milicent, Okafor said the panel had made progress in mobilising state legislatures and promoting legislative action on nutrition and food security.

He disclosed that nutrition and food security committees had been established in 32 states, hence the formation of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security.

Okafor said the network is working on legislative interventions to address critical nutrition challenges such as extending maternity leave to six months and regulating the sale of adulterated vegetable oils in open markets.

He also stated that the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria Bill (HB.2659) had passed second reading in the House with a public hearing scheduled for October 20, 2026.

The committee’s chairman further said the National Nutrition Bill, an executive bill, was at an advanced stage for onward transmission to the National Assembly for legislative consideration.

He identified effective oversight of nutrition funding, protection of local food systems and safeguards against the aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods to children as key priorities in the committee’s efforts to improve nutrition outcomes.
Okafor warned that malnutrition and food insecurity remained significant threats to Nigeria’s socioeconomic development, noting that rising inflation had further increased the pressure on households struggling to afford adequate and nutritious meals.

The lawmaker called for stronger partnerships among government institutions, development partners and private organisations to address the country’s food and nutrition challenges.