Varietal chairman commends Premier, NIHORT for tomato varieties, one other release

Premier Seed Nigeria Limited, a first famous indigenous seed company has recently received a pat on the back along with National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) for being able to bring for documentation and release of two different tomato varieties after a very long while in the history of crops varietal release in the country, just as one yellow hybrid maize fortified with pro-vitamin A was also approved for registration and release for the company.

This commendation came at the presentation of 25 different varieties by the Technical Sub- Committee on crops headed by Prof. Olasoji Olufajo to the National Chairman, National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of crops, Chief Oladosu Awoyemi recently at the conference room of National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan for official release and commercilization.

After a very thorough scientific investigation and examination of the major three different varieties which included two tomato varieties popularly tagged ( PS TOM 1 and PS TOM 2) brought by Premier Seed Nigeria Limited in partnership with NIHORT along with one hybrid maize called ‘‘Oba Super 8’’ that all the candidates were allowed to be registered and release.

The chairman of national varietal release committee, Chief Awoyemi commended the effort of the two organizations for bringing the two tomato lines for documentation in more than one number, saying this had not happened in the last many years especially in the category of horticultural crops despite its high demand for local and external consumptions in various ways.

Scientists believed the new tomato varieties would enhance local production because of it resistance qualities to diseases both on farms and multi- locations, and thereby could be able to checkmate the influx of series foreign ones entering into the country through front and back doors with negative impact on our economy.

Speaking on the varieties’ release, the representative of Premier Seed Nigeria Limited, Dr. Samson Afolabi said this had not happened in a long while especially coming from a private seed company saying it was a victory for the local farmers and other stakeholders in the tomato productivity value chain food system as increase production would address the challenges of local demand for consumption and processing coupled that the varieties have a long shelve life that can withstand stress as against the old ones.

Dr. Afolabi described the two varieties as having competitive potentials of high disease resistance which was obvious from the on farm trials with farmers involvement, just as they are high yielding compared to other varieties, saying the ‘’ the T2 and T5’’ now tagged as (PS TOM 1and PS TOM 2) respectively do produce higher fruits yield across locations, and they are resistant to bacterial wilt, tomato yellow leaf curl and early blight. The varieties are good for sole cropping as well as for mix and intercropping both in the Northern Guinea and dry savannah of Nigeria thereby increasing wealth for farmers with increased cultivations’’

Also presented as candidate before the National Varietal Release Committee by Premier seed is multiple stress tolerant yellow Maize Hybrid popularly called (Oba Super 8), and which was also approved for release and commercialization for farmers’ use. This was achieved in partnership with International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, and Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Zaria.

What made this particular variety of maize acceptable for approval and release was because of its high grain yields under striga infestation in low nitrogen and drought condition areas, just as the hybrid is good for sole cropping, it is  as well as for mixed and intercropping with other legumes.

 The nutrient value of ‘’Oba Super 8’’ with provitamin A fortified for more consumption has endeared it to farmers for more planting as it has been fortified with provitamin A.