NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SEED COUNCIL ACT

What Is This Policy?

The Act establishes the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) as a legal entity responsible for regulating, controlling, and coordinating all seed industry activities in Nigeria from research and testing to certification, marketing, importation, and exportation.

Who Does It Target?

The Act is directed at farmers, seed companies, researchers, and regulators. Farmers benefit from access to certified, high-quality seeds. Seed companies are regulated to ensure compliance with standards. Researchers contribute to seed development, while regulators enforce quality control to protect the agricultural sector.

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

The Act aims to stimulate the development of a dependable seed industry, ensure farmers have access to high-quality seeds, and protect them from counterfeit products. It also seeks to align Nigeria’s seed system with international standards, thereby boosting agricultural productivity, food security, and export competitiveness.

Key Features

Establishment of the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC). Regulation of seed testing, registration, release, production, and distribution. Mandatory certification and quality control of seeds. Protection of farmers against poor-quality or fake seeds. Oversight of seed importation and exportation. Development of policies for seed industry growth and sustainability.

Current Status

Rollout Stage: active in its initial stage Coverage: applies nationwide Beneficiaries to Date: Farmers accessing certified seeds; seed companies regulated under NASC. Funding: Federal Government allocations, international donor support (FAO, USAID, AGRA)

How to Access

• National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC): (seedcouncil.gov.ng in Bing) • Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (FMARD): https://fmard.gov.ng • Nigeria Legal Information Institute (NigerLII): http://www.nigerlii.org

Important Terms

Term 1- Seed Certification This is the process of verifying that seeds meet strict quality standards before they are sold to farmers. Certification checks for purity, germination rate, disease resistance, and genetic identity. Certified seeds give farmers confidence that what they plant will produce reliable yields. Without certification, farmers risk buying counterfeit or poor‑quality seeds that lead to crop failure. Term 2- Variety Release Variety release is the official approval of a new seed variety for commercial use. Before release, a seed variety undergoes extensive testing for yield performance, adaptability to local conditions, and resistance to pests and diseases. Once approved, it is added to the national seed catalogue, making it available for farmers and seed companies.

Official Resources

National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) Website: https://www.seedcouncil.gov.ng Role: Apex regulatory body for Nigeria’s seed industry. Oversees seed certification, quality control, variety release, and regulation of seed companies. Contact: 📍 Address: Km 29, Abuja–Lokoja Expressway, Sheda, FCT, Abuja 📞 Phone: +234 803 650 0266, +234 702 916 2531 ✉️ Email: [email protected] Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (formerly FMARD) Website: https://agriculture.gov.ng (agriculture.gov.ng in Bing) Role: Supervises NASC and formulates agricultural policies. Provides funding, oversight, and coordination of national agricultural programs. Contact: 📍 Address: Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja 📞 Phone: +234 (0) 9 234 0770 ✉️ Email: [email protected] Nigeria Legal Information Institute (NigerLII) Website: http://www.nigerlii.org Role: Repository of Nigerian laws and legal documents. Provides access to the full text of the NASC Act and related legislation. Seed Portal Initiative (NASC Digital Platform) Website: https://www.seedcouncil.gov.ng Role: Online portal for farmers and seed companies to access information on certified seed varieties, seed companies, and agricultural best practices. Link to document- https://seedcouncil.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Seed-Act-2019.pdf

Legal Framework

The National Agricultural Seed Council Act is the primary legislation governing the seed industry in Nigeria. It operates alongside the Plant Variety Protection Act, the Fertilizers and Chemicals Act, and the National Agricultural Policy. NASC aligns with the ECOWAS Regional Seed Regulation, the African Seed Access Index (ASAI) standards, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), and the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) Convention.