NIHORT ED promises more releases, thanks Minister, others

The Executive Director (ED) National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) Dr. (Engr.) Lawal Atanda has said more improved seeds for its mandate crops will soon be made available to farmers as the process towards the commercialization is already in place. Dr. Atanda said this in his office last week Friday while responding to questions on the recently  released five tomato varieties just within the short time of his arrival at NIHORT.

Atanda said the research materials or lines of the newly released varieties are already in the laboratory, saying he was just being able to give sufficient support to the researchers in charge to achieve the great feat, just as he pointed out that work is already on going for more mandate crops to be soon presented before the national variety committee for official release.

The ED said he had rolled up his sleeve to reposition the Institute better than he met it, adding that more vegetables, okro, garden egg, pepper, bananas etc that are wilt, disease and heat resistant with adaptability in all ecologies in the country would soon be made available to our farmers to ensure round the year cultivations.

He pointed that with the crops of competent researchers in the Institute, Nigeria can no longer afford spending huge amounts on importing tomato seeds when there are abundant varieties that are yet to be documented for national release.

NIHORT boss however attributed the achievement of the released tomatoes to the commitment of the minister of Agriculture,  ministry staff, staff of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria ( ARCN), the partnering seed company ( Premier Seeds of Nigeria) and his staff saying all these have jointly helped to quickly get this done.