By Peter Uwumarogie
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State have inaugurated an ultra-modern seed processing factory established by Premier Seeds Nigeria Ltd.
The facility, located in the Gombe Industrial Park, was developed with support from the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through its climate and agriculture programme, Propcom+.
Yahaya said the plant is crucial to Gombe’s largely agrarian economy, noting that more than 80 per cent of the state’s residents depend on farming for their livelihood.
“The factory will give our farmers access to high-quality, climate-smart seeds, boosting productivity and food security across the North-East and indeed Nigeria,” he said.
Obasanjo, founder of Premier Seeds, stressed the central role of quality seed in agricultural output.
He commended the state government for creating an enabling environment through the industrial park, saying the initiative would spur investment and tackle unemployment.
Director-General of the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), Mr Fatuhu Buhari, said the plant would unlock the North-East’s potential as an agro-industrial hub and aligns with Pillar 3 of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on food security and job creation.
Propcom+ Country Representative, Dr Adiya Ode, said the UK Government-funded programme’s investment in the seed processing facility would help close the gap in the availability and affordability of certified seeds across North-East Nigeria.
Ode explained that the plant was designed to strengthen the supply chain for improved, certified, climate-resilient seed varieties.
She said the facility would enable smallholder farmers to access high-yielding, drought- and flood-tolerant, disease-resistant, and bio-fortified seeds at significantly reduced costs.
According to her, the intervention will also address critical logistical challenges that hinder farmers’ access to quality seeds in the region.
Premier Seeds’ Managing Director, Dr Ibitoye Oyewale, described the facility as a milestone that raises the company’s processing capacity from 20 metric tonnes per hour to 35 metric tonnes, thereby improving farmers’ productivity and profitability. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
