![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/broadnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/IMG-20211124-WA0057-767x1024-1.jpg\")
Karume emphasized the importance of increasing awareness and widespread use of improved, disease-resistant maize seed varieties that can withstand striga and fall armyworm infestations, thereby increasing yield.<\/p>\n
He stated that the company will provide genetically pure foundation seed so that the hybrids’ genetic potential can be realized.<\/p>\n
According to him, ECOBasic will initially focus on Nigeria, but in the long run, it will seek to expand into the larger Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Region.<\/p>\n
“It will go after domestic and international seed companies that produce certified hybrid seeds.”<\/p>\n
“Right now, ECOBasic is concentrating on foundation seed for hybrid seed maize production,” he made clear.<\/p>\n
In his remarks, AATF Executive Director Dr Kanangire Canisius stated that the mission of ECOBasic seed company was to sustainably produce foundation seeds of the highest quality and purity for hybrid seed production for seed companies, thereby increasing profitability, productivity, and food security in West Africa.<\/p>\n
He expressed concern that Africa had remained the leading continent in terms of hunger and poverty, while agricultural productivity remained at its lowest level.<\/p>\n
“ECOBasic Seed Company is coming at a time when the region’s seed sub-sector needs a vibrant player to fill in the gap,” he said.<\/p>\n
Also speaking, Dr Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), stated that for African nations to be self-sufficient in agricultural food production, the journey to food security begins with quality foundation seed of undiluted purity.<\/p>\n
“If you get the seed sector right, you’ve solved nearly 70% of the problems associated with agriculture,” he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN), the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), and other stakeholders in Nigeria have launched a new venture. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the establishment of ‘ECOBasic Seed’ is part of efforts to boost the productivity and profitability of seed companies […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":654,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[277,20],"tags":[278,282,280,279,281],"class_list":["post-652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-agriculture","category-economy","tag-aatf","tag-ecobasic-seeds","tag-nacs","tag-seedan","tag-start-up-company"],"yoast_head":"\n