By Aminah Carew
The National Varieties Release Committee (NVRC) has released 18 high-yielding crop varieties to boost Nigeria’s agricultural productivity in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s nine-point agenda.
The new crop varieties were approved out of a total of 25 varieties submitted for consideration by research institutions and was announced by NVRC chairman, Oladosu Awoyemi, during its 29th meeting at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan.
In a press statement from NACGRAB’s Registrar, Sunday Aladele, on Sunday, it was stated that the new crop varieties were approved out of a total of 25 varieties submitted for consideration by research institutions, universities and private seed companies.
The statement listed the new crop varieties approved for release as two sweet sorghum varieties and four multipurpose cassava varieties.
Also released are, one “poundable” cassava variety , two white maize hybrids one yellow maize variety , and two pro- vitamin A maize varieties.
Others are, one medium maturing top – cross maize variety , two maize hybrids , and three yam varieties.
The statement explained that the sorghum varieties were released based on their high brix content and high extract yield.
It 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 new yam varieties were released based on 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 new crop varieties, two hybrid cotton were just registered by the Committee to serve as refuge for the released Bt Cotton.
The two hybrid cotton are (MAHYCO C 567 and MAHYCO C 571), approved for registration only.
Developers of the 18 new 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 Centre, Kenya; Bayer Crop Science , Petit, South Africa; and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, Kenya are also among developers of the released new crop varieties.
The statement also quoted Mr Awoyemi as saying in his vote of thanks that the meeting is held once or twice yearly with the target of increasing agricultural productivity of Nigerian famers through provision of high yielding crop varieties.
