Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State have commissioned a state-of-the-art seed processing plant built by Premier Seeds Nigeria Ltd at the Gombe Industrial Park.
The facility, supported by the UK Government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through its Propcom+ climate and agriculture programme, aims to enhance access to certified, climate-resilient seeds for smallholder farmers.
Governor Yahaya said the factory is critical to the state's predominantly agrarian economy, where over 80% of residents depend on agriculture. "Farmers will now have access to high-quality, climate-smart seeds that will increase productivity and strengthen food security across the North-East and beyond," he said.
Obasanjo, the founder of Premier Seeds, described quality seeds as the foundation of agricultural success. He praised Gombe State for its investor-friendly environment, especially through the industrial park initiative, which he said will attract investment and generate jobs.
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Director-General of the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), Mr Fatuhu Buhari, noted that the plant supports President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda on food security and economic growth.
Dr Adiya Ode, country representative for Propcom+, said the project addresses the persistent shortage of certified seeds in the region. "It will ensure farmers can access high-yielding, drought- and flood-tolerant, disease-resistant, and bio-fortified seed varieties at reduced cost," she said.
Managing Director of Premier Seeds, Dr Ibitoye Oyewale, added that the factory boosts the company's processing capacity from 20 to 35 metric tonnes per hour, positioning it to better serve smallholder farmers and improve their profitability.
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