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

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, had during its 36th meeting deliberated on the 12 varieties received.

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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.

Olufajo 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.

He added that this would also enhance food and nutrition security in the country.

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

The meeting attracted researchers from several research institutions across the country.

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

(NAN)