Health of Mother Earth Foundation urges Nigeria to protect indigenous seeds

The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has called on the Nigerian government to implement urgent reforms to the nation's food system to protect indigenous seeds and farmers' rights. Marking World Food Day, the environmental advocacy group warned that current industrial agricultural practices and restrictive seed policies threaten food sovereignty, biodiversity, and nutrition.

HOMEF Executive Director Nnimmo Bassey criticized the country's reliance on monoculture and cash-crop production, stating that these practices weaken food supply chains, deplete soil health, and reduce farmers' control over production. The organization argued that hunger persists in resource-rich Nigeria due to political and economic choices that disadvantage smallholder farmers.

To build climate resilience, HOMEF advocated for a transition toward agroecology and the protection of local seed varieties. The group emphasized that indigenous seeds are vital for adapting to climate change due to their genetic diversity, which supports drought resistance and pest management.