Food Security: FG releases 45 new crop varieties, register two gingers

The National Committee on varietal Release (NCVR) in Nigeria chaired by Chief Oladosu Awoyemi has approved the commercialization of forty five (45) new crop varieties with two gingers registered for proper documentation in the nation’s seeds catalogue.

These released varieties are coming on heel of approval by the Technical Sub-Committee on Crops (TSC) headed by Prof. Olusoji Olufajo after critical scientific questionings and verifications on the potential superiority of them over the older ones.

 

All the new varieties before final approval were again subjected to routine screening by the NCVR in compliance to global standard just as the chairman, national release committee, Chief Awoyemi reminded presenters the usual deposit of the five kilogram (5Kg) of each released variety to National Centre for Genetic Research and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) and National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) for further research test for more improvement by breeders.

Responding to the concern raised by the NCVR chairman on the meeting sustainability after the departure of West African Productivity Program (WAPP) funding support in the last three years, the Executive Director (ED) NACGRAB and Registrar, NCVR, Dr. Sunday Aladele said the issue is being appropriately attended to, saying that all the research institutes and private companies are willingly ready to support and even pay some charges on every candidate being presented as approval of the minister to allow committee to constantly review charges based on naira value is also receiving positive attendance.

The detail of both the new released varieties and the two gingers brought for registration are as follow

A total of forty-nine (49) crop varieties were submitted to be considered for registration and release, out of which two gingers were for registration only, while two other were step down.  They include the following:

1. Two (2) Rice hybrids from Bayer Nigeria Limited, National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Nigeria and National Rice /Maize Center, Nigeria.

2. Two (2) high protein rich Oat varieties from Institute for Agricultural Research Institute (IAR) Samaru, Zaria and Solution LLC, United State; Context Global Development, United States.

3. Two (2) Durum Wheat varieties from Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, Jigawa Research Institute, Nigeria and ICARDA, Morocco.

4. Three (3) maize hybrid from Goldagric Nigeria Limited, Kaduna; International Institute of tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

5. One (1) Three-way cross yellow maize hybrid from Bayer Nigeria Limited, Nigeria and Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

6. Three (3) Drought and Striga tolerant maize from Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), and International Institute of tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

7. One (1) drought TEGO Maize hybrid from Institute for Agricultural Research Institute (IAR) Samaru, Zaria and African  Agriculture Technology Transformation Foundation (AATF).

8. One (1) Pro-Vitammin A maize hybrid from from Institute for Agricultural Research Institute (IAR) Samaru, Zaria and International Institute of tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

9. Two (2) Drought and Striga tolerant maize hybrid from Premier Seeds Nigeria Limited, Zaria, Kaduna, International Institute of tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan and Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria, Kaduna state.

10. Three (3) maize hybrid from Value seed Limited , Kaduna, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Department of Crop Production, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Ogun State, Department of Crop Production and Protection, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife and Department of Crop science and Horticulture, Federal University Oye- Ekiti.

11. Two (2) Intermediate Maturing Top-Cross Maize Hybrid from Samlak Industries (seed), Ibadan; International Institute of tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan and Institute for Agricultural Research and Training (IART), Obafemi Awolowo University, moor plantation, Ibadan.

12. One (1) late maturing white maize hybrid (15C32563) (SC737) from SeedCo Nigeria, Kaduna,  Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru and International Institute of tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

13. One (1) Maize variety from University of Ilorin, Ilorin.

14. Five (5) maize hybrids from WACOT Nigeria Limited, Funtua, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan and Institute of Agricultural Research  and Training, Ibadan.

15. Three (3) Pro-Vitamin A hybrid cassava from National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria and International Institute of tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan. Nigeria.

16. Two (2) Kenaf varieties from Institute for Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) Ibadan, Nigeria and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Nigeria.

17. Two (2) early maturing Soybeans varieties from National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) Badeggi; International Institute of tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, and Global Soybean Lead, IITA, Zambia, Lusaka.

18. One (1) soybean variety from SeedCo Nigeria, Kaduna and National Cereals Research Institute Badeggi, Niger State.

19. Two (2) Acha varieties from National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi.

20. Three (3) varieties cowpea from Institute for Agricultural Research and Training. Ibadan.

21. Two (2) varieties of cowpea from University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

22. One (1) variety of cowpea from Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Samaru, Zaria and International Institute of tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

23. One (1) yam variety from National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, International Institute of tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan and Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria.

24. Two (2) varieties of Ginger from National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria