Nigeria Releases 18 High-Yielding Crop Varieties

December 21, 2020
High-Yielding Crop Varieties

By Adedapo Adesanya

In order to boost agricultural productivity in Nigeria in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari 9-point agenda, the National Varieties Release Committee (NVRC) has released 18 high-yielding crop varieties.

The unveiling of these new crop varieties is expected to favour farmers in the country, who will now experience bountiful harvest going forward and in turn, make food cheaper.

During the announcement, the Chairman of NVRC, Mr Oladosu Awoyemi, said the 18 crops were taken from the 25 submitted by researchers.

While speaking during the 29th meeting at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) in Ibadan, Oyo State, according to a press statement from the Registrar of NACGRAB, Mr Sunday Aladele, the researchers were drawn from research institutions, universities and private seed companies.

In the statement issued on Sunday, it was disclosed that two sweet sorghum varieties (SAMSORG 50SW and SAMSORG 52SW), and four multipurpose cassava varieties (UMUCASS 47, UMUCASS 48, UMUCASS 49 and UMUCASS 50) were among the 18 approved.

NVRC also approved one poundable cassava variety (UMUCASS 51), two white maize hybrids (SC667 and SC419), one yellow maize variety (ILOMAZ – 1), and two pro-vitamin A maize varieties (SAMMAZ 59 and SAMMAZ 60).

Others were one medium maturing top – cross maize variety (SAMMAZ 61), two maize hybrids (SAMMAZ 62 and SAMMAZ 63), and three yam varieties (Dioscorea alata – UMUDa 31 and Dioscorea rotundata –UMUDr 29 and UMUDr 30).

The statement explained that the sorghum varieties were released based on their high brix content and high extract yield.

The agency declared that the cassava varieties were released based on high-quality flour product and high dry matter while the maize varieties were released based on high grain yield and excellent husk cover, tolerance to drought, low nitrogen and high pro-vitamin A content.

The three yam varieties were released based on the slow rate of oxidation, ability to be eaten in pounded form, high yield, and high dry matter content.

The statement disclosed that apart from the 18 released varieties, two-hybrid cotton were just registered by the committee to serve as a refuge for the released Bt Cotton.

Two-hybrid cottons were (MAHYCO C 567 and MAHYCO C 571) approved for registration only.

Developers of the 18 released crop varieties include the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Abuja, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

Other developers are the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, the University of Ilorin, the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training Ibadan; and Seed Co. Nigeria Ltd.

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, Kenya, Bayer Crop Science, Petit, South Africa, and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, Kenya are also among developers of the released varieties.

It also noted that Mr Awoyemi said the meeting was held once or twice yearly with the target of increasing agricultural productivity of Nigerian farmers through the provision of high yielding crop varieties.

Adedapo Adesanya

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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