Plant Breeders Seek Stronger Funding, Infrastructure for Food Sufficiency
Nigerian plant breeders and other stakeholders in the Agriculture sector have called for stronger funding, investment in infrastructure, research and breeding innovations to effectively combat food security challenges. They made
Nigerian plant breeders and agricultural stakeholders have urged for increased funding, improved infrastructure, and innovative research to strengthen food security in the face of climate change. At the 4th International Conference of the Nigerian Plant Breeders’ Association (NPBA), held in Abuja, experts called for collaboration between breeders, financial institutions, and government to address the challenges of developing climate-resilient crops.
Dr. Solomon Afuape, Director of the Sweet Potato Programme, emphasized the need for better agricultural support systems, pointing out that inadequate infrastructure and lack of investment deterred potential investors. He warned that weak links in the agricultural chain, such as power and transportation issues, could lead to the collapse of enterprises.
Prof. Muhyideen Oyekunle, a maize breeder, urged researchers to form strategic partnerships to access funding and develop stronger proposals. Prof. Richard Akinwale stressed the importance of considering environmental factors in breeding efforts to develop resilient crops. Dr. Kayode Sanni, Global Lead, Biotech, Maize Seed System, called for market-oriented breeding to ensure that innovations meet commercial needs.
Financial sector stakeholders, including banks and development finance institutions, advocated for new financing models to support crop variety development and seed industry growth.
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