FG releases three heat resistance tomatoes, 12 other crop varieties. -Stakeholders advocate adoption, funding, commend WAAP-

Chairman, Nat. Citee, of Varieties registrant, Chief Oladosu Ayoyemi commending food farm news while from Rt-Lt, NACGRAB, Dr. Sunday Aladele, Prof. Olusoji Olufajo & DG. Nat. Biotech Agency, Prof. Lucy Ogbadu at newly registered varieties at NACGRAB, Ibadan.

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.