Promoting Resilience with Improved Varieties, Quality Seed, and Better Seed Systems

Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Promoting Resilience through Improved Varieties, Quality Seed, and Better Seed Systems: Lessons from Nigeria Part of the Fragility to Stability Seminar Series February 11, 2026 Across sub-Saharan Africa, small-scale, resource-poor farmers are disproportionately affected by climatic and market shocks. Providing them with the tools and technologies to manage these shocks is critical to building resilience, especially in Nigeria, with its considerable diversity. This seminar will showcase novel evidence of how improved crop varieties, quality seed, and better seed systems can lead to improved outcomes in productivity, resilience, and nutrition across several Nigerian states. The event will bring together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to present and reflect on this evidence, providing insights into adoption, demand, willingness to pay, complementarity of inputs, yields, and household consumption. The discussion will center on lessons for promoting improved inputs across similar settings, with a focus on how inputs can most effectively be marketed to vulnerable households to promote resilience. Introduction and Opening Remarks Oliver Kiptoo Kirui, Research Fellow and Acting Program Leader, IFPRI Nigeria Internal Displacement and the Promotion of Agricultural Intensification in Nigeria Rewa Misra, Head National Policy and Innovative Finance, HarvestPlus-IFPRI Interventions to Accelerate Varietal Turnover and Enhance Seed Resilience in Northern Nigeria Catherine Ragasa, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI New Evidence on the Productivity, Profitability, and Welfare Impacts of Insect-Resistant Cowpea in Nigeria Mulubrhan Amare, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Panel Discussion Chinedu Agbara, Partner, Sahel Consulting Jonathan Mockshell, Scientist and Project Leader, Alliance Bioversity & CIAT Muhyideen Oyekunle, Maize Breeder/Lecturer, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Jada Mohammed, Oxfam Novib Closing Remarks Arun Baral, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), HarvestPlus-IFPRI Moderator Kate Ambler, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/promoting-resilience-through-improved-varieties-quality-seed-and-better-seed-systems-lessons-from-nigeria/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription