The National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) has launched a renewed campaign to eliminate the circulation of fake onion seeds in the country, vowing to safeguard the interests of farmers and uphold the integrity of the onion value chain.
Speaking to journalists in Sokoto on Saturday, NOPPMAN National President confirmed the arrest of a suspect from Kano, identified only as Jafaru, who was allegedly caught with counterfeit onion seeds. He stressed that the infiltration of fake seeds has severely damaged the onion farming sector, resulting in economic losses estimated in billions of naira and threatening the livelihoods of smallholder farmers nationwide.
He said the sector suffered major setbacks last year due to substandard seeds that caused widespread harvest failures. Intelligence reports, he noted, suggest more individuals may still be selling fake seeds to unsuspecting farmers.
In response, NOPPMAN has stepped up its collaboration with security agencies to trace and arrest offenders. The association has also taken possession of the seeds found with the suspect and placed them under laboratory scrutiny to determine their authenticity. Until testing is completed, the seeds will remain in the association’s custody.
The association is partnering with the Sokoto Agricultural Development Project and the National Horticultural Research Institute to conduct the tests. Depending on the results, the seeds may be used as evidence in court proceedings or returned if proven genuine.
While responding to questions on the scale of damage, the president said a full financial assessment is underway and more accurate figures would be available by July or August 2025. He assured farmers that efforts are being made to hold perpetrators accountable and help affected farmers recover.
He noted that both federal and state governments are working on recovery support mechanisms to restore affected farmers to full production. He reaffirmed the association’s determination to clean up the seed supply chain, prosecute offenders, and prevent further sabotage of the onion subsector.
The arrested suspect, Jafaru, denied knowingly selling fake seeds, claiming he was unaware of NOPPMAN’s directive requiring submission of uncertified seeds for testing. However, he expressed readiness to accept legal consequences if proven guilty of selling counterfeit seeds.
This intensified clampdown is seen as a critical step in restoring trust in Nigeria’s onion farming sector and protecting the thousands of farmers whose livelihoods depend on it.
