IITA, stakeholders push for stronger legume seed systems to boost food security in Nigeria

21 May 2026

Stakeholders across Nigeria's legume value chain have called for stronger collaboration, improved seed dissemination systems, and market-driven varietal development to accelerate food security and sustainable legume productivity.

The call was made during a two-day Legume Seed Systems Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP) Summit convened by IITA -CGIAR to accelerate the development and delivery of breakthrough cowpea varieties. The summit brought together key seed sector actors along legume value chains, including researchers, seed companies, farmers, agro-dealers, processors, marketers, traders, aggregators, extension agents, and policymakers to discuss practical strategies for strengthening legume seed systems, particularly cowpea in Nigeria.

Speaking during the summit, Professor Lucky Omoigui said the platform was designed to improve farmers' access to improved seed varieties and to strengthen coordination and collaboration among stakeholders across the legume value chain.

According to him, the initiative aims to create a sustainable, private sector-driven system that connects breeders, seed companies, marketers, processors, agro-dealers, and farmers more effectively.

"We want to build a sustainable platform that strengthens collaboration and ensures farmers can access the varieties they truly need," he said.

Prof. Omoigui emphasized that consumer preferences must increasingly guide varietal dissemination and increase adoption, noting that farmers and consumers are now demanding varieties with specific traits such as faster cooking time, large seed size (brown and white seed coat), improved taste, high yield, drought tolerance, and resistance to pests and diseases.

Participants at the summit stressed that improved seed systems remain critical to addressing food insecurity in Nigeria.

Chairman of the Crops Technical Subcommittee of the National Committee on Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds and Fisheries, from the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Zaria, Professor Shehu Garki Ado, described the summit as timely and strategic.

"The seed system starts with the registration and release of varieties," he said. "Nigeria, with its vast resources, should have no business importing food. It should be able to export food."

He further highlighted the need to formalize agricultural commodity trade and strengthen awareness among stakeholders to improve productivity and national food security.

Breakout discussions during the summit identified several major constraints affecting legume seed systems, including limited seed availability and accessibility, weak coordination between research institutions and seed companies, rising production costs, poor extension coverage, and inadequate market linkages.

Stakeholders also emphasized the importance of involving farmers more actively in varietal development processes to ensure newly developed varieties reflect real production challenges and market demands.

Farmers and seed companies shared practical field experiences with preferred cowpea varieties such as ALKAM SUPER, FUAMPEA 2, and SAMPEA14, citing desirable traits including high yield potential, striga resistance, attractive seed size, minimal spray requirements, and excellent fast-cooking quality.

Ibrahim Muhammad Bello, representing Nagarta Seed Company Limited, Yobe State, observed that some improved varieties performed exceptionally well under heavy Striga infestation while maintaining high yields. Some of these varieties could be further enhanced to benefit farmers.

Stakeholders further advocated for stronger farmer training systems, increased use of local languages and media for awareness creation, improved extension services, and greater inclusion of Agro-dealers and marketers within the seed dissemination ecosystem.

Also speaking at the summit, Nefisa Aminu Idakwoji, CEO of PFGN Agricultural Ventures, Nasarawa State during an interview, highlighted the production challenges currently facing farmers, including climate variability, rising input costs, labor shortages, and poor market returns. She stated that the seed is the foundation of every crop production. "When you have access to a very good variety of seeds, you have solved about 50 percent of the challenges farmers face, including food insecurity and sustainability."

Participants agreed on the need for stronger public-private partnerships, community-based seed systems, digital information platforms, and market-oriented dissemination strategies to improve the adoption of improved legume varieties across farming communities.

The summit concluded with renewed commitment among stakeholders to strengthen coordination, improve access to quality seed, and promote resilient, market-responsive legume seed systems that support Nigeria's food security and agricultural transformation goals.

Contributed by Sarah Sallau