Foundation unveils initiative to promote data-driven seed selection for farmers

The Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions (FSSS) has rolled out a nationwide project designed to enhance seed choices and boost farm productivity through the use of reliable performance data.

The initiative, titled “Using Performance Data to Promote Better Seed Varieties”—also known as ProSeV—is supported by the Gates Foundation and will run for 36 months, from November 2025 to November 2028.

ProSeV aims to generate credible, location-specific performance data for key staple crops including rice, maize and cowpea, providing practical guidance for farmers, seed companies, extension agents and policymakers.

Speaking at the project’s unveiling and stakeholders’ engagement workshop held in Abuja, the Executive Director of FSSS, Dr. Isaiah Gabriel, said the initiative was developed to close a long-standing gap in Nigeria’s seed system, where farmers frequently rely on availability or tradition rather than proven field performance when selecting seed varieties.

He explained that although many improved seed varieties have been released over the years, there is still a shortage of accessible, post-release data showing how these varieties perform on farmers’ fields across different agroecological zones. 

This, he said, has hindered adoption, constrained productivity and weakened competitiveness, especially in rice production.

Under the project, ProSeV will carry out side-by-side performance trials of released and selected unreleased seed varieties across Nigeria’s six agroecological zones, spanning at least 12 states. 

Beyond yield, the trials will evaluate traits such as resilience, taste and adaptability, with the goal of better aligning seed supply with farmers’ preferences and market needs.

“This project, Using Performance Data to Promote Better Seed Varieties in Nigeria, is our collective attempt to change that story. It is about replacing guesswork with evidence, replacing assumptions with data, and ensuring that when a farmer asks, ‘Which variety works best for me?’ there is a clear and trustworthy answer.

Across Nigeria, farmers are planting seeds every season, often based on hearsay, habit, or availability, not because those seeds are the best-performing options for their soil, climate, or market. When farmers are unsure, adoption slows, productivity suffers, and the entire value chain feels the impact,” Gabriel said.

Also speaking, FSSS Partnership and Grants Manager, Eric Nyikwagh, disclosed that the project will commence with rice trials in its first year before scaling up to include maize and cowpea.

He added that ProSeV will collaborate closely with national research institutions, regulators and seed companies, while leveraging the national variety database to promote transparency and ensure the credibility of its findings.

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