The Nigerian Agricultural Seed Council has warned against purchase and planting of seeds without the council’s approval.

The Director General of the Council, Doctor Olusegun Ojo, gave the warning  during a sensitisation exercise in major agro allied markets in Ibadan the capital of Oyo State.

He explained that this was in line with preparations ahead of the planting season.

He told farmers, representatives and seed dealers that only seeds with the tag of approval from Nigerian Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) should be planted to avoid poor yield.

Ojo  however stressed that the council would not hesitate to take severe punitive measures against any importer, dealer, or retailer who sells substandard seeds to farmers.

Some of the agro-allied dealers’ seed retailers  have lauded the efforts of the council at ensuring only premium seeds were planted by farmers. They, however, decried the absence of proper monitoring mechanism to weed out those selling untreated, low yield or compromised seeds to farmers.