Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN) has donated a laboratory – a seed testing molecular diagnostic facility to the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) to upgrade its capacity to meet global standards.
At the launch of laboratory, the executive secretary of the FMAN, Alhaji Olalekan Saliu, said FMAN cherished its partnership and collaboration with “you for the milestone achievement, as we look forward to furthering engagements with the NASC in its quest to bring more viable and vibrant seed culture to Nigeria.”
While congratulating NASC, he said FMAN will continue to collaborate with other key players within the Wheat Value Chain. “It is our hope that the achievement of increased wheat production in Nigeria would be accomplished through the sustained cooperation and collaboration of all major stakeholders.
“We are not disappointing the farmers, and they are very happy with us. They have the benefits of a guaranteed market, and when you have a guaranteed market, you are happy. We would pay a reasonable price,” he said..
He called on the federal government to revive all the dams that are not functioning and also to rehabilitate all the dams that have broken down.
“Must have sufficient irrigated land, and this is where the government comes in. The private sector has a very little role to play. The major infrastructure which is required to provide irrigation is water dams.
“Provision of water pumps for farmers, by supporting them with the little we have. When we talk about the sufficiency of irrigated land, we have to talk about the sufficiency of quality seeds, and the question now is, do we have it available in Nigeria?” he added.
