NACGRAB registers new eleven improved varieties, stakeholders advocate more breeding centres, funding, and commend WAAPP.

The National Center for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) through the committee on Naming, Registration and Release of crop varieties, livestock/ fisheries has recently in December 5th approved and registered  about eleven newly released crop varieties from different Research Institutes and private companies just as stakeholders wanted more animal breeding centres extablished with more funding to NACGRAB, while  West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) was commended for it financial support to research development in the country.

Among the varieties  approval by the National Committee  on naming, registration and release of crop varieties under the leadership of Retired Oladosu Awoyemi are potato (MARABEL), Sorghum-PRADHAN, MLSH 296 Gold and MLSH 151, Maize- SAMMAZ 41 and SAMMAZ 42, Soybean-NCFISOY-01 and NCRISOY-02, Rice-Faro 63, and wheat- LACRI-5 and LACRI WHIT-6.
The Registrar of the centre, Dr. Sunday. Aladele said by this approval, all these varieties can now be freely distributed among farmers as the genetic characters and history of each of them will now be officially registered and documented at NACBRAB towards ensuring conservation and sustainable utilization of genetic resources in Nigeria.

It is worthy of note that all these improved crop varieties presented by various Research Institutes and private companies have been well audited at the 25^th meeting of the Technical Sub-Committee ( TSC) level by various scientists and researchers from various institutions with thorough scientific questions following descriptors’ format for the purpose of merited approval by the National Committee just as some of the varieties could not pass beyond this level for lack of one information or the other.

It is stated that “The 25^th meeting of technical sub-committee (CROPS) on the naming, registration, and release of crop varieties held at NACGRAB conference room, Moor plantation on 3^rd, 2014 to deliberate on submissions of crops varieties received from research Institutes, Universities and Private companies in the countries. A total of twenty two (22) crops varieties were submitted for consideration, registration and release which include “three (3) upland rice from National Cereal Research institute (NCRI), Badeggi, and Africa Rice Center, Nigeria station. Three (3) sorghum hybrid from Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, and Syngenta, Nigeria Limited. One (1) potato variety from National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike and Sygenta Nigeria Limited. Two (2) wheat varieties from Lake chad Research Instittue, Maiduguri. Eight Maize hybrids: three (3) from Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), University of Ilorin, National Agricultural Extention Research and Liaison Service and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, while five (5) were from IITA and Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Moor Plantation, Ibadan. Five (5) Soybean varieties from IITA and NCRI, Badeggi”
However for rice, faro 63 was recommended for release based on early maturing and high yield, while in sorghum, PRADHAN got approval based on its white and bold grains with high yields just as the MLSH 296 was approved for release based on high grains yield. MLSH 151 is also released for its bold round grains with cream colour and high yield.

The extral early maturity, high yield and high number of marketable tubers and high dry matter content warranted the release of Marabel as new variety of potato just as two varieties of wheat called “LACRI WHIT-5 and LACRI WHIT-6” were both release for high yield/ good baking quality, and early maturing, high yield and good baking quality respectively.

Also two varieties of maize, SAMMAZ 41 and SAMMAZ 42 were both approved for release based on early maturing, high grain yield, long ear and low soil nitrogen tolerance just as soybean variety NCRISOY 1 was released for its extral early maturity, promiscuous nodulation, as well as resistance to rust, cercospora leaf spot and bacterial pustule. The NCRISOY 2’s released was based on high yield, promiscuous nodulation, resistance to rust, cercospora leaf and suitability for mechanization.

It was obvious that the December 5^th 2014 approval by the National Committee did not include any livestock or fisheries varieties as effort is ongoing at the TSC level towards ensuring descriptors’ format the animals/fisheries species will be using for registration as stakeholders have agreed to replicate crops’ format with general description/ information and detailed description of breed/varieties/strains/lines.
Stakeholders believed that by the time a descriptor format is adopted, then all animals in the country will be asked to come for registration adding there is need to test standard of any strain being released as they observed the multi-national companies may be afraid to release both male and female strains to farmers, but pointed that putting in place an effective intellectual property right will assist the situation as it was pointed that the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina is already pursuing the actualization for the purpose of checkmating sub standard influx of all kind of animal and crop species into the country. The parent right on improved seeds will build confident in the owners of parent stocks just as they pointed the need for more synergy between NACGRAB and Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) so as to checkmate influx of all kind of animals into the country.

They also advocated  more attention for livestock/ fisheries policy that would enhance the development of these sub sectors of Agriculture  adding that there is need to create more animal breeding animal centres with proactive breeding policy for the sector as they advised that mandate of NACGRAB should be more incorporated to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development based on its strategic position in ensuring continued conservation and sustainable utilization of genetic resources in Nigeria.
Also the chairperson TSC (Fisheries) Prof. (Mrs) Ofelia G. Omitogun from OAU, Ile Ife posited that about nineteen items of breeds was to be recommended for release as soon as the descriptor format is approved thereby thanking WAAPP for assisting in separating fish from livestock for better functioning while the National Committee chairman, Mr. Awoyemi enjoined fisheries committee to move into fish locations for the purpose of better actualizing its mandate  saying the names of the local fish must be well spelt out for farmers’ understanding just as Mr. Yarama Ndirpaya of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN)  commended WAAP for its financial support to research development added there are many quacks in the breeding of fish as he advised the origin of every species must be insisted to avoid fake in face of ensuring standard just as Dr. Ijantiku Ignatius Angarawai of ICRISAT suggested the use of bio technology to ascertain the source of very fish.

Other stakeholders advocated for other sources of funding to NACGRAB in case WAAPP should stop its funding support stressed that TSCs meeting must be sustained for the purpose of efficient practice in the sector, but the Registrar, Dr. Aladele was quick to advise that caution must be well taken to avoid being misinterpreted saying “any committee set up must do a thorough study of how fund should be sourced”
IITA, Dr. Ajala supporting the need for other alternative source of funding the TSC meetings said that there must be charges for every nomination of improved variety either from the research institutes or private organization just as the Executive Director of Lake Chad Research Institute supported saying “All research Institutes should be written to give support to this meeting. We are ready to give such support on behalf of all other directors”
Also NASC representive , Mr. F.J. Olonilua advised that the Seed Association of Nigeria (SEDAN) should be invited to support this meeting pointed that “when Dr. Olaseinde Omidiji was the president of the association, we are enjoying the their support but I am very sure they will be ready to support if invited”
The researchers and scientists however commended the support of WAAPP to agricultural research development but insisted that the hour has come for the private companies and research Institutes to start paying some charges on material releases just as all the value chain of Agricultural Transformation Agenda must support this meeting with conclusion that a fund sourcing committee that will be coordinated by the registrar be set up.