The Federal Government made a new rice variety, known as FARO68, and 20 other crop kinds available to farmers as part of its attempts to make Nigeria food-sufficient in the production of rice and other crops. This information was announced in Ibadan by Chief Oladosu Awoyemi, the NVRC’s chairman. At the 31st meeting of the National Committee on Naming, Registration, and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds, and Fisheries, Awoyemi stated that the varieties were made available to farmers through his committee.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the conference took place at Moore Plantation in Ibadan’s Conference Hall, which is home to the NACGRAB Secretariat. Awoyemi reported that out of the 25 crop types that were submitted for registration, 21 were accepted and subsequently distributed at the meeting, which was attended by numerous agriculture professionals, researchers, breeders, seed firms, and other important players. The National Cereal Research Institute, Badeggi in Niger, he said, was responsible for creating the new rice type.
New lowland rice genotype has been registered and released.
He claims that the lowland rice genotype’s early maturity and high grain production are what cause it to be registered and released. Three novel millet varieties with high iron and zinc content, high grain production, and the presence of long bristles on the panicle—LCIC MV5; LCIC MV6; and LCIC MV7—are among the additional crop varieties that have been introduced. Yam varieties include UMUDr34-Sunshine, UMUDr33-Blessing, and UMUDa35-Delight. These yam types were introduced because of their excellent yield and effective boiling and crushing characteristics. VSL 2201, PAC 740, SAMMAZ 69, SC 424, SC 555, and Oba Super 8 are six hybrid maize cultivars.
Awoyemi says these new maize varieties were released due to their high grain yield, tolerance to autumn armyworm, major foliar diseases, numerous stressors, striga, drought, and low nitrogen. The head of the NVRC also announced the release of three new Sorghum varieties, SORGHUM 52, SORGHUM 53, and SORGHUM 54. According to him, the Sorghum varieties were released due to their high yield and biomass, earliness, high iron (fe) content, dwarfness, and striga resistance. During the meeting, five tomato types were also released: HORTITOM 1, HORTITOM 2, HORTITOM 3, PS TOM 1 and PS TOM 2.
These were also released in the US and other agricultural countries.
It was stated that the types released were in line with what was released in the United States, Kenya, and other agricultural countries, and that the process will prevent the agriculture sector from stagnating. Awoyemi, who has served as chairman of the NVRC since 1991, utilized the occasion to announce his retirement from the committee due to his old age. The 88-year-old man, asked agriculture stakeholders to continue to be dedicated to the growth of Nigeria, “especially in Agriculture, being the backbone of the nation’s economy.
Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General of the National Biotechnology Growth Agency (NABDA), stated in his remarks that the release of the 21 crop varieties will greatly help the development of crop sections for the overall development of the farming system in the country. According to Mustapha, when farmers plant these new types of crops, they would receive high and quality yields, tolerance to illnesses, drought, and freedom from other restraints. He urged farmers to be certain that they were sowing with the correct seeds.
The new variety would contribute to food security in the country.
Mr. Mohammed Bashir, a plant breeder specializing in rice breeding at Niger’s National Cereal Research Institute in Badeggi, stated that the presentation of the new rice variety would greatly help to the country’s food security. Bashir claimed that the FARO68 rice would yield more than the country’s current commercial kinds. He claimed that under the appropriate management by Nigerian farmers, the new rice variety might yield 11.6 metric tonnes per hectare, compared to the present kinds’ four to eight metric tonnes per hectare.
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