The Seed Systems Strengthening Programme is a key pillar of Jigawa-ATA’s Production and Productivity agenda. It focuses on ensuring that every farmer in Jigawa State has access to high-quality, affordable, and climate-resilient seeds — the foundation of agricultural transformation.
Recognizing that seed is the first and most critical input in the productivity chain, this programme aims to build an efficient, inclusive, and sustainable seed value chain by strengthening local seed systems, empowering private seed enterprises, and improving certification, distribution, and farmer awareness.
Through coordinated partnerships with seed companies, research institutions, and regulatory agencies, Jigawa-ATA’s seed programme seeks to make quality seeds available, accessible, and trusted — transforming Jigawa into a northern hub for seed innovation and multiplication.
Strategic Objectives
-
Improve Seed Quality and Access: Ensure timely and affordable availability of certified, high-yielding, and climate-smart seed varieties across priority crops.
-
Promote Local Seed Production: Strengthen the capacity of community-based and private seed producers to enhance local supply and reduce dependency on external sources.
-
Enhance Seed Certification and Regulation: Support the establishment of reliable quality assurance systems in collaboration with national seed agencies.
-
Encourage Farmer Adoption: Build awareness among farmers on the benefits of improved seeds through field demonstrations, farmer schools, and digital platforms.
-
Integrate Digital Seed Tracking: Leverage the Jigawa Farmer Information System (JiFIS) to create digital traceability and transparency in seed distribution and use.
Expected Outcomes
-
Availability of certified seeds covering 90% of all cultivated farmlands in Jigawa within five years.
-
Increased average crop yields by 40–60% due to use of improved varieties.
-
Establishment of community-based seed enterprises employing hundreds of rural youth and women.
-
Reduction in the circulation of counterfeit or substandard seeds through traceability systems.
-
Enhanced climate resilience and food security through promotion of drought- and flood-tolerant crop varieties.
Partnerships and Collaborations
-
Regulatory Agencies: National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
-
Research Institutions: IAR Zaria, NCRI Badeggi, Jigawa Research Institute, and universities for varietal development.
-
Private Sector: Certified seed companies, agro-input dealers, and logistics firms.
-
Development Partners: FAO, AfDB, USAID, and AGRA for technical support, funding, and policy alignment.
Sustainability and Impact
Anchoring local seed production and integrating digital systems, Jigawa-ATA’s Seed Systems Strengthening initiative ensures that quality seeds reach every farmer at the right time, right price, and right quantity. This transformation will not only raise productivity but also establish Jigawa as a regional center of excellence for seed innovation, enabling farmers to thrive, agribusinesses to grow, and the state to secure a resilient, self-sustaining agricultural future.
