Who is affected

Nigerian farmers, consumers, civil‑society organisations, and concerned citizens committed to food sovereignty, agro‑biodiversity, and human rights.

 
What is the problem?

In the Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Act of 2021 (and related regulations under the National Agricultural Seeds Council Act), ordinary farmers can now face fines for saving, sharing, or replanting seeds. This upends centuries‑old traditions, erodes our indigenous seed systems, and shifts control to a handful of corporate breeders.

What is the demand?

 
1. Repeal all criminalising provisions (especially Section 43(2) of the PVP Act) that penalise farmers for saving, exchanging, or replanting seeds.
2. Withdraw Nigeria's accession to UPOV 1991, which imposes “all‑rights‑reserved” rules on seeds unsuited to our smallholder farming realities.
3. Adopt a sui generis seed protection regime based on the African Model Law, safeguarding farmers' rights to save, share, exchange, and sell farm-saved seeds.
4. Ensure full, meaningful consultation with farming communities, indigenous seed keepers, women's groups, and civil society before any future seed or plant‑variety legislation.

 
Why is it important to take action now?

Food Sovereignty: Farmers must access and reuse seeds adapted to our diverse climates.

 
Biodiversity & Resilience: Traditional seeds carry unique traits (drought tolerance, pest resistance), which are essential in the face of climate change.

 
Economic Justice: Smallholder farmers, especially women, depend on seed sharing to survive; criminalisation favours corporate interests.

Cultural Heritage: Seed custodianship is an integral part of our communities' identity, heritage, and knowledge transmission.