By Faridat Salifu
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation and the Institute for Agricultural Research, has unveiled new varieties of maize that are resistant to drought and pest to enhance food production.
The drought resistant maize was unveiled on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The maize varieties offer benefits such as increased yields, reduce pesticide use and enhance profitability for farmers.
During the launch of Tela maize , the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, said the new maize varieties would significantly increase yields, from the current two to three tonnes per hectare to as high as nine to 10 tonnes.
The minister emphasized that the new varieties are designed to tackle issues such as pests like Fall Armyworms and stem borers, which have been causing substantial production losses for farmers.
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Canisius Kanangire, the Executive Director of AATF, commended the collaborative efforts between the government and various institutions, stating that the introduction of Tela maize varieties in Nigeria signifies a commitment to providing advanced and resilient crops to local farmers.
The Executive Director of IAR, Prof. Ado Yusuf, revealed the names of the maize varieties as SAMMAZ 72T, SAMMAZ 73T, SAMMAZ 74T, and SAMMAZ 75T.
These varieties are expected to not only reduce production costs but also ensure food security, not only in Nigeria but also across the West African sub-region.
In his remarks, the National President of AFAN, Ibrahim Kabir, encouraged farmers to adopt the new maize varieties to boost production and improve livelihoods.
He emphasized that these drought and insect-resistant maize varieties have the potential to transform the agricultural landscape in Nigeria and contribute to food security in the region.
The introduction of these innovative maize varieties signifies a significant step towards enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring sustainable food production in Nigeria.
