Syngenta advocates yield benchmark for new variety release

The Country Program Manager, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFfSA), Mr. Isaiah Gabriel has emphasized that high yielding potential must be part of the criteria for the registration and release of any new variety for easy acceptability by farmers.

Mr. Gabriel gave this suggestion at the December meeting of the Sub-Technical Committee on Crop Varieties chaired by Prof. Olusoji Olafajo at the conference room of the NACGRAB sometimes at Ibadan.

Mr. Gabriel said is very important to bench mark the yield potential of any new candidate being brought before this committee for release and registration, saying by so doing farmers will be enjoying high yielding new varieties for more economic gain and commercialization.

According to him ‘’ variety to be released must possess a very high yielding potential than older ones in the past, and adoption must meet 7-8tons per hectare, and by so doing will help to be easily sold to farmers for more economic earnings and commercialization’’

He added high yielding potential seed variety will eradicate lengthy discussion or conviction  of farmers to buy improved seeds saying that ‘’ It is better to allow high yielding seeds variety with benchmark to be approved for release so that farmers can be attracted to such seeds’’

The chairman of the Sub-Technical committee on crop varieties, Prof. Olusoji Olafajo called on all the seeds companies to ensure that any new candidate must have a higher potential yield than the previously released ones adding that the research institutes must be ready to support the private seed companies through moderate charges in order to achieve multiplication.

Also, the former Executive Director, Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, Dr. Oluwasina Olabanji had advised the private seed companies in the country to ensure constant liaisoning with the research institutes in the process of their improved seeds for multiplication following the specified guidelines.