FG releases maize for pop corn, meat Chicken, others

The 36th edition of National Varietal Release Committee (NVRC) Meeting for crops, livestock breed/ fisheries domiciled at NACGRAB, and chaired by Prof. Olusoji Olufajo has approved the first ever improved maize varieties for commercial pop corn production along with another quality meat chicken with several other releases that will ensure national food security inclusive of vitamin nutrients provision for the humans' body.

Among the fourteen prominent new crops released were maize, tomato, yams, potato, eggplant, rice, Musa Spp, soyabean, pepper, onions, groundnut, cotton, cowpea and sorghum.

Prof. Olusoji Olufajo approved all the maize candidates presented by the sub technical crops chairman committee, Prof. Shehu Ado among which are two hybrids " ARTPOP 001 and 002" that had high potential for popcorn production from the Institute for Agricultural Research & Training ( IAR&T), Moor plantation, Ibadan.

The two candidates were brought by IAR&T along with the chicken meat variety called "Moor beta"

The NVRC chairman, Prof. O. Olufajo commended the Institute for bringing two hybrid maize varieties that are both high in popping volume for fast food pop corn, and with another livestock variety called Moor beta that was good for quality meat farmers and other private investors can take as an advantage for commercialization.

Other maize crops released for their hybrid potentials to enhance food security, nutrients and commercial uses are as follows.

i. Bioseed Fiyah 629 which was approved based on high grain yield and tolerance to fall armyworm.

ii. Bioseed Fiyah 435 was also registered and released by the NVRC for its high grain yield and good standability.

iii. Hybrid bioseed Fiyah 683 approved for its high pro- vitamin A content, tolerant to drought, early maturing and high grain yield.

iv. Maize hybrid DKC90-53 was registered and released for high grain yield, good standability and excellent stay-green characteristics

v. Maize hybrid DKC81-81 also released and registered based on high green yield, good standability and tolerance to fall armyworm.

vii. Maize hybrid ZTC9003 released and registered for high grain yield, excellent stay-green green characteristics, and tolerance to fall armyworm.

viii. Maize hybrid SAMLAK FAW-1 was released and registered based on high yield, tolerance to fall armyworm, striga and drought.

ix. Maize high OBA SUPER 10 released and registered for provitamin A content, tolerance to striga, drought and low nitrogen.

x. Maize hybrid OBA SUPER 12 released and registered for high grain yield.

xi. Maize hybrid OBA SUPER 19 also approved for release based on striga resistance and high grain yield.

xii. Maize hybrid PRH-02-Y was released and registered for its high grain yield and provitamin A content.

Under groundnut are four (4) different varieties released and registered namely SAMNUT 30 for its high pod and haulm yield, tolerance to early leaf spot, late leaf spot and rosette.

KaNut-001, 002, 003 were released and registered for their high Oleic acid and low linoleic acid with other different economic characteristics.

Also registered and released by the NVRC under Cowpea crop are

1. SAMPEA 24 for its high yield, medium maturity, resistance to bacterial blight and striga, tolerance to drought and adaptable to Northern and Southern Guinea Savanna.

2. SAMPEA 25 for its high yield, medium maturity resistance to bacterial blight and striga, tolerance to drought and adaptation to Sudan Savanna agroecology.

3. SAMPEA 22 approved for its high yield, early maturity resistance to striga and bacteria blight, viruses, tolerance to drought and adaptation to sahel savanna agroecology.

4. SAMPEA 23 for its high yield, early maturity resistance to striga and bacteria blight, viruses, tolerance to drought, suitability for Cowpea flour and adaptation to Northern and Southern Guinea Savanna.

Prof. Olufajo commended the efforts of scientists for their resilience to ensuring improved seeds varieties to farmers despite funds challenges as many had  spent their personal funds to achieve this feat for food security.

The 36th NVRC was the first ever with the highest numbers of candidates being presented and approved for their importance to national food security on nutrition value and economic addition just as farmers will have access to improved seeds for better livelihood.

The members of the national release and registration committee including the chairmen, sub technical committee on crops, Prof. S. Ado and his counterpart on livestock/ fishery, Prof. Akin Hassan were handy at the candidates' presentation for commercializations.

Also released and registered were six (6) cotton crop varieties that includes 

I. MIC 563 BG11 for its resistance to Bollworm complex, leaf roller and leaf hopper, high seed cotton yield, medium to late maturity.

ii. MIC 563 BG11 has three of the above qualities with upper hand on high Ginning Out Turn( GOT), early to medium maturity and tolerance to sucking insects.

iii. MIC 561 for its resistance to Bollworm complex, leaf roller and leaf hopper, medium seed cotton yield and medium to late maturing.

iv. MIC 563 for its high seed cotton yield, high GOT, early to medium maturing and tolerance to sucking insect pests.

v. FIYAH CH1001 approved for resistance to Bollworm complex, high seed cotton yield, leaf roller, wide adoptation, big boll seize, medium to late maturing and good stability.

vi. FIYAH CH1002 was approved for its resistance to Bollworm complex, leaf roller, high cotton yield, wide boll opening and early to medium maturity.

Under Musa Spp, crops like plantain ( HORTIPLAN 1& 2) and banana ( HORTIBAN 1&2) were released and registered.

I. HORTIPLAN 1 for its heavy bunch, yellow pulp, excellent for boiling, frying, roasting, flour making, and long shelf life.

ii. HORTIPLAN 2 for heavy bunch, yellow pulp, excellent for boiling, frying, roasting, flour making and high carotenoid content.

iii. HORTIBAN 1 for high, good and sweet taste, thick peel and big pulp.

iv. HORTIBAN 2 for intermediate bract apex shape, good as desert banana when ripe, and high carotenoid.

Egg Plant from NIHORT including HORTIPICUM 1, 2, & 3 that were all registered and released for their high protein and calcium contents with moderate yield, and early maturing, high yield and vitamin C content respectively for HORTIPLAN 1 and 2. HORTIPLAN 3 is early maturing, high ash and fibre content, and moderate vitamin C content.

The only sweet pepper variety candidate called SP PEP 1 from Seed Project Co. Ltd, Kano in collaboration with NIHORT was registered and released.

Another single crop variety Soyabean ( TGx2029-531), a propriety  brought by the YSJ Limited in partnership with International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan was also registered and released for its good pod clearance, high yield, high protein content, tolerance to Cercospora leaf spot and bacterial pustule.

Two different yam varieties called UMUDr 37 and 38 were approved to be released and registered for their early maturing, good tuber shape, white tuber flesh colour, excellent boiled quality, good pounding quality and high yield, and early maturing, general adaptation, high yield, excellent boiled and pounding quality respectively.

The NVRC also on behalf of the Federal Government ( FG) released and registered five(5) rice varieties comprising FARO 73 from National Cereals Research Institute ( NCRI) with other partners, two (2) hybrid SG RICE 1&2 by Yuan's seed company limited in partnership with NCRI, and two(2) MIP 5803 & 4802 from Rasi seeds (P) Ltd and NCRI, Nigeria.

Six (6) different varieties of onion candidates for both wet and dry seasons. The HORTIONI 1,2&3, for dry, while HORTIONI 4, 5 & 6, all from NIHORT were released and registered.

Five(5) other Nihort tomato candidates that were registered and released included HORTITOM 6, 7, and SP TOM 1, 2,&3.

Sorghum PAC 501, propriety variety from the IAR in partnership with Advanta seeds Ltd, International Crops Research Institute for Semi- Arid Tropics and Kaduna State University, Kaduna was released and registered by FG.

Finally released and registered was hybrid potato connect from National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Abia state.

The  NVRC registral, double as the CEO, NACGRAB, Dr. A. U Okere wants the government at all levels to take advantage of all the available improved seeds to advance food security and nutritional values, pointing that farmers must be supported with these inputs to enhance foods sustainability just as he thanked all organizations that have supported the hosting of the meeting.