Agriculture
THE National Varieties Release Committee (NVRC) has released 11 high yielding and quality crop varieties to Nigerian farmers to boost agricultural productivity in the country.
The Registrar, National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Dr Sunday Aladele, disclosed this to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Tuesday.
Aladele said the varieties were officially released by Chief Oladosu Awoyemi, the committee’s chairman at its 28th meeting held at NACGRAB.
He said that the 11 varieties were selected out of a total of 20 crop varieties initially submitted to the sub – committee on crops for consideration for registration.
Giving further details, Aladele listed the new hybrid crops varieties as six maize, two castor, two yam, and one cowpea varieties.
He said the first maize variety, Zuma 450, and second maize variety, Zuma 500, were released based on extra earliness and high grain yield.
Aladele said the other four maize varieties, SAMMAZ 56, SAMMAZ 57, SAMMAZ 58 and SAMMAZ 59, were approved for release based on high protein content, high pro-vitamin A content, high yield, and tolerance to multiple stress.
He said the first Castor variety, NCRICAS 1, was released based on high seed yield and large endosperm.
On the second castor variety, NCRICAS 2, the registrar said it was released based on high yield, high oil content, early maturity and good oil physicochemical properties.
Aladele announced that the first yam variety, UMUDa27, was released based on slow rate of oxidation, good taste and high dry matter.
According to him, the second yam variety, UMUDA 28, was released based on good processing quality and good taste.
With respect to the new cowpea variety, SAMPEA 20 – T, Aladele said it was released based on resistance to legumes pod bearer and early maturity.
He expressed displeasure at the late submission of materials to the secretariat by research institutions, universities scientists, and private companies, adding that any late submission in the future would be rejected.
Aladele urged them to always submit the Distinct Uniformity Stability (DUS) requirements of their crop varieties with the crops.
He said a list of the requirements could be obtained anytime at NACGRAB.
Aladele reminded them that all crop varieties must meet the DUS requirements of being distinct, uniform and stable for acceptance not only in the country but in West Africa. (NAN)
– Dec. 17, 2019 @ 13:19 GMT |
Tags: National committee releases 11 new crop varieties to Nigerian farmers
