Former IAR ED tells farmers not to replant hybrid seeds

  

To get a maximum yield in hybrid seeds with other best agronomics practices, the former Executive Director (ED) Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Prof. Mohammad Faguji Ishiyaku has advised that farmers to purchase hybrid seeds for yearly planting.

This according to Prof. Ishiyaku will enhance maximum yield when all other agronomics practices are applied adding that re-plant would amount to planting grains, and there will not be good results.

He said this during the Centenary celebration field day visit to the institute' s farm at Samaru, Zaria where all its mandate crops are being showcased to farmers and other stakeholders with improved technologies practices for food security.

Responding to questions on hybrid seeds, former ED said they cannot retain their yield potential after the first plant like traditional open pollinated crops that were bred among other crops.

He added it is better to repurchase hybrid seeds for better yield performance than to re-plant them, saying its contact with other crops through open farm would have reduced its yield potency to grain.

The IAR demonstration farm has eight mandate crops of the Institute where farmers and extension workers can be trained with improved technologies for better commercial food production.