The Federal Government
under the auspices of the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release
of crop varieties, Livestock Breeds and Fishing has recently approved the
release and registration of three heat resistance tomatoes with twelve others
thereby bringing the total numbers of crops officially registered to 545 since
1989 inauguration.
Among the
varieties presented by the Technical Sub Committee (TSC) crops to the National
Committee chaired by Chief oladosu Awoyemi for released and registration are
the three tomato hybrids from National Institute for Horticultural Research
(HIHORT) and Sygenta Nigeria Limited namely Kilele, Chibli and Tylka which are
approved based on high yield fruit, firmness and tolerant to heat.
In a submission
of the TSC, it was stated that “fifteen (15) crops varieties out of the eighteen
were forward to the National Committee for release. This includes two (2) elite
upland rice variety (Faro 64 and Faro 65), three (3) tomato hybrids (Kilele,
Chibli and Tylka), five (5) maize hybrids (SAMMAZ 43, SAMMAZ 44, SC651 and two
Ife maize hybrid), One (1) Aflatoxin resistance maize variety (SAMMAZ 45) two
(2) cowpea varieties (SAMPEA 16 and SAMPEA 17, and two (2) wheat varieties (LACRI
WHIT-7 and LACRI WHIT-8”
Many stakeholders
expressed the need for fast transferring of all these newly released crops
varieties to farmers through commercial production by registered private seeds
companies saying that the immediate adoptions would enhance agricultural ensure
high production through more increased yield on a hectare of a land with
emphasis on the heat resistance tomato varieties which many said it will
mitigate losses.
The official
report of the National Agricultural Seed Council ( NASC) revealed that many
farmers are still very reluctant to picking the new improved quality varieties
of seeds that is already in circulation as they are finding it very difficult
to away with old ones based on colour and taste.
Scientists’ response
to NASC official report on farmers off take of the newly registered and
released seeds varieties observed that Growth Enhancement Support (Ges) inputs
supply should suppose to have invariably impacted on the farmers’ mentality of
getting adapted to the improved quality seeds saying farmers are the best judge
to determine market acceptability while they also clamoured for seeds fair as
being proposed by WAAPP for awareness creation.
The chairman of
TSC, Chief Awoyemi admonished breeders to monitor the performance of the crops
variety in the field for more assertions on their characters and strain
performance adding that farmers must be encouraged to using improved quality
seeds to meet commercial food supply in the country and for export.
However the
national registrar on variety release DR. Sunday Aladele commended the
financial support of WAAPP to quality improved seeds development in the country
while also recognized the IITA, DTNA, AGRA and African Rice for their support
to ensuring the meeting sustenance.
The Ad-hoc
committee on the Post WAAPP funding of NVRC has suggested the following steps
towards raising fund for the centre as follows
1. Charging of the non- refundable
nomination fee on every variety proposed for registration and release.
2. Selected members (sub
Committee) of the NVRC to visit the Honourable Minister of Science and
Technology on save our Soul (SOS mission) on the need for sustainable statutory
budgetary allocation to NACGRAB to avert the likelihood of losing the national
valuable genetic resources. The subcommittee should also pay courtesy call on
the Executive Secretary of ARCN for support from the NARIs
3. Federal Ministry Science and Technology
should provide statutory budgetary allocation directly to NACBRAB.
4. Technology developers (R&D
institution) should always provide funds for varieties release as part of
variety development budgets and also earmark some funds for variety release as
part of MOU on all contract research agreements.
5. NACGRAB should charge fees on
all germplasm mean meant for commercialization as source of IGR to augment
funding, but give out germplasm for public research free of charge.
6. NVRC should approach
international organizations/projects directly to seek funding assistance
towards hosting of statutory variety release meetings.
7. NVRC should approach the
Federation Universities of Agricultural and other relevant universities for
funding support through the chairman of the committee of deans of faculties of
Agricultural and the faculties of Veterinary Medicine in Nigerian universities.
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