The Netherlands is working with Nigeria to improve the country’s agricultural sector and ensure food security through various intervention programs.
Recognizing the importance of agriculture in Nigeria’s economy, the Netherlands is focusing on sustainable and gender-inclusive practices to foster growth and resilience in the sector.
The Netherlands ambassador to Nigeria, Wouter Plomp, shared the comprehensive approaches that have been mapped out to achieve their vision during a press parley in Abuja on Thursday.
According to Plomp, development, known as the Dutch Diamond Approach, addresses the entire food system like seed development and horticulture where Dutch expertise can make a great impact.
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He stated that the Netherlands-Nigeria Seed Partnership is one of the key initiatives aimed at improving access to quality seeds and enhancing crop productivity.
Through the Collaborative Seed Programme (CSP 2020-2024), the Netherlands is working closely with the National Agricultural Seeds Council to develop a seed sector development strategy that promotes inclusivity across various topics.
They are reaching 43 per cent and 46 per cent of targets for female and youth farmers in seed company marketing and promotion.
The Netherlands is upgrading the seed tracker software to include maize and rice tracking information and enhancing seed traceability and management.
Currently, over 5,876 farmers are being trained by 13 seed companies on improved varieties and good agricultural practices, empowering them to adopt sustainable farming techniques.
Through the initiatives, the Netherlands aims to contribute to a resilient Nigerian food system that provides sufficient healthy food, creates job opportunities, and respects the natural environment by leveraging expertise and fostering collaboration.
They are also establishing 45 demonstration plots in Kano and Kaduna to showcase improved seed varieties for rice, maize, sorghum, tomatoes, peppers, and cabbage to foster knowledge-sharing and adoption among farmers and seed companies.
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