$3bn seed import bill strains forex as local firms roll out five year growth blueprint

Nigeria’s annual $3 billion spending on imported vegetable seeds is intensifying pressure on scarce foreign exchange, highlighting structural gaps in the country’s agricultural value chain and fuelling a renewed push by local seed firms to scale production, attract investment and expand into regional markets.

Industry leaders said the heavy import dependence represents both a macroeconomic risk and a major business opportunity, as domestic companies unveiled a five year development strategy aimed at import substitution, industrial scale expansion and export growth.

Jafar Sani Bello, national auditor,Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria, SEEDAN, said Nigeria spends about $3 billion yearly importing seeds for tomato, cabbage, carrot and cucumber, warning that the figure could rise to between $10 billion and $15 billion annually without strong domestic production.

He said indigenous seed companies have become a strategic buffer against worsening foreign exchange pressure, saving billions of dollars in imports while supporting national food production, employment and rural incomes.

Bello spoke in Abuja at the launch of SEEDAN’s five year development plan, in partnership with Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited and Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, AGRA.

Yusuf Ado Kibiya, president, SEEDAN, said the strategy is designed to unlock private capital, deepen local production capacity and position Nigeria as a seed hub for West and Central Africa.

He said the global seed industry is valued at over $500 billion, while Nigeria already hosts more than 500 seed companies across small, medium and large scale categories, pointing to strong growth prospects if the right investment and policy support are mobilised.

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Kibiya said the plan prioritises governance reforms, quality assurance, access to finance, digital coordination and stronger public private partnerships to boost productivity, strengthen competitiveness and improve market confidence.

He said improved seed quality and availability would lift farm yields, reduce production costs and stabilise food prices, with direct implications for inflation management, food security and economic growth.

Aishat Hadejia, partner Sahel Consult said the strategy is structured to attract long term investment, strengthen institutional capacity and build a scalable business model for Nigeria’s seed sector.

She said implementation would focus on operational efficiency, market expansion and measurable commercial impact.

Stakeholders said successful execution of the plan could significantly cut Nigeria’s seed import bill, conserve foreign exchange, stimulate agro industrial development and create thousands of jobs, while opening new export markets across the sub region.

They said the initiative aligns with broader national efforts to stabilise the naira, strengthen agricultural competitiveness and accelerate economic diversification.

The strategic objectives of the plan include strengthening SEEDAN’s institutional capacity and governance for effective service delivery, driving financial sustainability through diversified revenue streams and enhancing the association’s role in policy advocacy to support a vibrant, commercially driven seed sector.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.