Potatoes are a vital food source in Nigeria, with significant export potential to neighboring countries, playing a crucial role in enhancing food security in the sub-region. However, achieving optimal yields remain a major challenge, hindering progress in Nigeria’s potato value chain.

A critical factor affecting productivity is the limited access to quality, disease-free seed potatoes. This issue was the focus of discussion at the Nigerian Seed Sector Platform webinar, led by the Nigerian Agricultural Seed Council in collaboration with the Collaborative Seed Programme (CSP)

The meeting which had over 300 persons in attendance brought together key stakeholders, including commercial entities, government agencies, research institutions, and development organizations. The meeting was facilitated by Mr Ekum Ojogu, Chief Agricultural Officer, National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC). key organizations such as the International Potato Center, GIZ-Green Innovation Centre for Food and Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), H2PC, National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI), Fruit and Veggies, jos were fully represented in the panel discussions.

The platform webinar was held with the topic: “Boosting the development of the potato sector: Addressing the gap of quality seed”.

Objectives of the meeting were to:

• Share the progress in developing the Irish potato sector in Nigeria
• Gain insight into factors affecting the availability and accessibility of high-quality potato planting materials.
• Discuss the way forward in closing the quality seed gap.

During the meeting the keynote speaker, Dr Kalpana Sharma of the International Potato Centre (CIP), shed light on the initiatives undertaken by CIP, including capacity building for private seed companies and smallholder farmers, strengthening regulatory bodies involved in seed potato certification, establishing a multi-stakeholder platform, and developing a national potato strategy document. These interventions aimed to enhance the overall capacity and expertise within the sector.

Experts in the field emphasized several crucial recommendations to improve Nigeria’s potato industry. They stressed the importance of empowering smallholder farmers in market-oriented seed production, implementing climate-smart innovations during harvest and post-harvest stages, and developing new potato varieties to ensure access to quality seeds.

As Professor Chiedozie Egesi, The Chief Executive Officer of the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), noted, “We need to improve productivity by getting the suitable varieties out there, as variety development is key and the beginning of any seed system or seed sector development.” 

He also emphasized the need to diversify potato production, as it is currently concentrated in the high-altitude Local Government Areas of Plateau State. Efforts are underway to expand seed production to different regions and explore the adaptability of new varieties outside Plateau State. This diversification aims to boost the growth and resilience of Nigeria’s potato industry. “We should also consider expanding seed production beyond Plateau State. Cross River is a good example, and Enugu state is also planning to begin potato production because they have areas that could be done. But for Cross River, Obudu, we are already testing the adaptability of new varieties in Cross River State, which is what NRCRI is doing.”

Other experts also highlighted the significance of building the capacity of extension agents and emphasized the need for tissue culture laboratories and irrigation facilities to foster the production of new potato seed varieties.

It is clear that stakeholders are acutely aware of the challenges facing Nigeria’s potato sector, particularly the critical issue of accessing quality, disease-free seed potato. Experts are working on various fronts to tackle these challenges, from empowering smallholder farmers and implementing climate-smart innovations to diversifying production regions and enhancing regulatory frameworks.

Continued conversations, like those facilitated in the Nigerian Seed Sector Platform webinar, are essential for driving the sector’s growth. These discussions not only foster collaboration among key players but also help in sharing knowledge, aligning strategies, and ensuring that the potato industry can thrive and contribute significantly to food security and economic development in Nigeria and the broader sub-region.