FG releases 10 high-yield crop varieties to farmers to enhance food sufficiency

The Federal Government, through the National Varieties Release Committee (NVRC), has officially registered and released 10 high-yield crop varieties to farmers to boast food sufficiency and enhance farming activities.

NVRC chairman, Dr Soji Olufajo, announced the release during the 32nd Meeting of the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crops Varieties, Livestock Breed/Fisheries.

The meeting was held at the Conference Hall of the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Moore Plantation, Ibadan.

Olufajo said 12 new varieties of three crops, namely Wheat, Potato and Maize, were submitted for consideration but 10 were recommended to the committee for registration and release.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the technical sub-committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crops Varieties, during its 36th meeting at the same venue, on Tuesday, deliberated on the 12 varieties received.

They were received from three research institutions in the country, namely Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI) Maiduguri, Borno (Wheat); National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, Abia (Potato) and Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) Ibadan (Maize).

The technical sub committee recommended 10 out of the 12 varieties which NVRC subsequently released on Thursday.

The NVRC chairman listed the released crop varieties as : four wheat varieties : LACRIWHIT 14; LACRIWHIT 15; LACRIWHIT 16D and LACRIWHIT 17D.

He said four potato varieties : KYAU; BABBAN; JURIYA and UNICA, in addition to two synthetic maize varieties: ARTMAZ 01 and ARTMAZ 02 were released to farmers.

He maintained that the four wheat varieties were recommended for registration and release based on heat tolerance, high yield/high flour yield and quality.

He also said the four potato released were because of their resistance to late blight, high dry matter and high yield.

He specifically said that KYAU is good for table, BABBAN JURIYA produce large tubers and sustainability for French fries and sustainability for crisps respectfully while UNICA is multiple purpose.

Olufajo said the two maize varieties released were because of their Fall armyworm tolerance and high yield.

He maintained that the four wheat varieties were recommended for registration and release based on heat tolerance, high yield/high flour yield and quality.

He also said the four potato released were due to their resistance to late blight, high dry matter and high yield.

Olufajo said the two maize varieties released were because of their Fall armyworm tolerance and high yield.

In his remarks, the NACGRAB acting Director/Registrar, Dr Anthony Okere, said
the release of the 10 crop varieties to farmers would enhance overall development of agriculture, also food and nutrition security in the country.

“Each of the crop varieties release has market segment they are being targeted, especially for wheat which is looking at a pasta as well as the bread which is common delicacy in every household in Nigeria.

“The same thing goes with potato, but one of the biggest challenge in potato is the ‘late blight’, this had many potato farmers loss huge amount of investment.

“But with these new potato varieties release today which are resistance to ‘late blight’ and also have high yield, farmers will record investment gains.” he said.

NAN also reports that each of the the research institutions that sponsored the crop varieties made presentations on the respective crops submitted.

According to Dr Charles Amad from NRCRI, potato is a crop which has already played and will continue to play a major role in food security and income generation for farmers and different stakeholders in the entire value chain.

“Due to its multipurpose use for fresh consumption and processing, particularly for small scale farmers in low and middle income countries in Africa.

“Potato is highly nutritious rich in essential amino acids, vitamin C and minerals and more climate resilient than cereals, as it produces more food per unit of land and is more water efficient,” Amad said

He further stated that all the four potato varieties released would enhance farmers production because the new varieties are resistance to late blight and have high yield.

On her part, Dr Maryam Dawud, from LCRI, said that wheat is the third most important global cereal after maize and rice in Nigeria.

Dawud maintained that Nigeria is the second largest consumer of wheat in sub Saharan Africa after Ethiopia.

She said Durum wheat has higher extensibility “and is more easily stretched into lone pieces without breaking, making it ideal for pasta.

” And that the demand for Durum wheat is rapidly increasing in Nigeria due to popular consumption of fast foods and semolina.

“Thus the need to rapidly promote its production by releasing suitable varieties to farmers.”

The presenter of Tolerant synthetic maize varieties from IAR&T Ibadan, Dr Dotun
Ogunniyan said the varieties have higher grain yield potential, “tolerance to FAW infestation.

“These medium maturing maize synthetics will ensure the sustainability and profitablity of maize production in Nigeria and
reduce cost of input with attendant higher returns to farmers.”

The meeting attracted researchers from several research institutions across the country.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)