Nigerian farmers have called on the federal government and members of the National Assembly to dedicate a portion of their annual constituency project funds to the provision of high-quality seeds, particularly the high-yielding TELA maize variety, as a strategic move to reduce the country’s reliance on maize imports.
The appeal, led by smallholder farmers across the country, follows growing concerns over the misuse of constituency allowances—funds allocated yearly to lawmakers for grassroots development projects.
Farmers argue that while politicians often erect buildings and infrastructure that have little long-term impact on food security, small-scale farmers continue to struggle with access to improved seed varieties.
Shehu Usman, a farmer and spokesperson for the group has said that smallholder farmers are in every constituency across Nigeria, battling daily to get quality seeds to feed the nation, Yet, politicians use these funds for unnecessary structures, while “we—the ones producing the bulk of the food—can’t even afford good seeds to plant.”
Usman stressed that allocating even a small percentage of lawmakers’ constituency allowances to the distribution of TELA maize seeds would make a significant difference.
The TELA maize variety, released in 2024 by the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has been praised for its resistance to pests like stem borers and fall armyworms, as well as for its resilience under mild drought conditions.
“With just a little investment in TELA maize, farmers can grow enough to feed their families and sell surplus, we don’t need stipends that disappear in a day—we need tools that can sustain us.” Usman said.
He also urged the government to ensure that any seed distribution efforts reach genuine farmers and not political allies, a concern frequently raised in agricultural intervention programs.
“There is a big difference between TELA and the conventional maize we’ve been planting,” “TELA resists pests, grows well with fewer inputs, and yields more. This seed should become a national priority for food production.” Usman added.
The farmers’ call comes as Nigeria grapples with a maize production shortfall of nearly 6 million metric tons annually. Stakeholders believe that supporting farmers with proven, high-yielding seed varieties like TELA maize could be instrumental in closing that gap and improving national food security.
With planting season underway, farmers are hopeful that lawmakers and government agencies will heed their call and shift focus from one-off infrastructure projects to more sustainable, agriculture-driven interventions.
Haruna Musa, a veteran farmer with two decades of experience, echoed the sentiment.
“TELA maize is unlike any other I’ve planted,” he said. “The yield was so impressive that I’ve already acquired a bigger plot of land for the next round.” Musa called on other farmers to adopt the seed and urged the federal government to leverage the success of TELA maize to engage young Nigerians in agriculture.
“This seedling can be a game changer — not just for food security, but for employment,” he said.Similarly, Mustapha Muhammad, who tried TELA maize on a small portion of his land after planting other varieties, described it as a lifesaver.
“I’m so glad I planted that little piece. Without it, my family wouldn’t have had enough maize this year,” he said.
“The germination rate is excellent, and the productivity is evident during packaging and milling. What started as a trial will now be my mainstay.
”With testimonies mounting, TELA maize is fast becoming a preferred choice for Nigerian farmers, many of whom are now calling for wider distribution and support from government agencies to scale adoption,” he added.
As the 2025 planting season begins, stakeholders are hopeful that the variety could play a central role in transforming Nigeria’s maize production landscape.
