By Gabriel Ewepu 

ABUJA – THE Gates Foundation, in partnership with the Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions, FSSS, has announced plans to establish a nationwide, coordinated data platform aimed at assisting Nigerian farmers make evidence-based seed choices to boost productivity.

The three-year initiative, code-named ‘Using Performance Data to Promote Better Seed Varieties in Nigeria (ProSeV)’, is funded by the Gates Foundation and implemented by FSSS. 

It seeks to create a national platform for post-release performance trials of crop varieties, providing farmers with reliable, location-specific data on seed performance.

According to the organisers, the platform will generate credible, farmer-relevant information to guide seed selection, improve yields and strengthen resilience among smallholder farmers across the country.

Speaking at the project’s unveiling, the Executive Director of FSSS, Dr Isaiah Gabriel, said ProSeV is designed to shift farmers away from guesswork and assumptions toward informed decision-making.

Gabriel said: “Across Nigeria, farmers plant seeds every season based largely on hearsay, habit or availability, not necessarily because those seeds are the best for their soil, climate or market.

“When farmers are unsure, adoption slows. When adoption slows, productivity suffers—and the entire value chain feels the impact.”

He also explained that the initiative is focused on replacing assumptions with evidence and ensuring farmers have access to trustworthy answers when deciding which seed varieties to plant.

“As one farmer once said, ‘I don’t need the best seed in the world; I need the best seed for my land”, he added.

Meanwhile, he noted that farmers’ perspectives would be central to the project, which will involve collaboration with seed companies, extension systems, off-takers and farmers themselves to ensure that data generated is translated into practical action.

He also disclosed that ProSeV will focus on generating credible, location-specific performance data for rice, maize and cowpea, to guide farmers, seed companies, extension services and policymakers. 

The project will also conduct head-to-head performance trials of released and selected unreleased varieties across Nigeria’s six agroecological zones, covering at least 12 States.

Also speaking, Partnership and Grants Manager, FSSS, Eric Nyikwagh, said the project would commence with rice trials in its first year before expanding to maize and cowpea.

Nyikwagh added that the initiative would work closely with national research institutions, regulators and seed companies, leveraging the national variety database to ensure transparency and credibility.

Meanwhile, a rice value chain player, Peter Dama, described the project as a major boost for Nigeria’s agricultural sector, saying it could position the country as a stronger global player in the rice value chain.

“With farmers equipped with clear knowledge of what to plant, where and when, productivity will increase significantly”, Dama said.