Lowland Rice Release: NCRI, ICS-CAAS-China announce a new drought tolerant variety-FARO 73

 

The Federal Government ( FG) constituted authority for the release and registration of improved crop varieties for food security, and nutritional value addition has officially approved the commercialization of a lowland rice variety called FARO 73 into the Nigeria market to boost food productivity just as to enhance national sufficiency of the nation's leading staple food.

This announcement was contained in a statement made available to Food Farm News by the two officials from the National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI) who coordinated the newly released lowland rice in persons of Dr. ( Mrs.) A. A Ajadi and Dr. B.Z Salihu.

It was stated that the release and registration of this newly lowland rice variety was approved by the National Varietal Release Committee chaired by Prof. Olusoji Olufajo at its 36th meeting held in Lafia Hotel , Apata, Ibadan.

The statement added that the newly Lowland rice release variety has the drought tolerant ability, and it was a collaboration achievement between NCRI, Institute of Crop Science ( ICS) and Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences ( CAAS), China.

It was further said in the statement that the efforts of the collaborating institutes in the rice production variety was aimed at checkmating the devastating effects of climate change in lowland rice cultivating areas where rain- fed agriculture is practiced.

The statement further said that the release of FARO 73 into farmers' hands is therefore expected to reduce the fear of rice shortage in the lowland areas where drought conditions prevail.

The chairman of the NVRC, Prof. Olusoji Olufajo in the statement commended the efforts made by scientists involved in the development of this variety in the drive to attaining food security in Nigeria saying that FARO 73 with its origin from ICS, China was presented for registration and release with evidence of approval from NCRI at the 36th meeting of the Varietal Release meeting  domiciled at National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan.

 It was noted that the development of this newly released rice variety-FARO 73, was coordinated by Dr. (Mrs) A. A. Ajadi and Dr. B. Z. Salihu, both from NCRI, Badeggi. 

The approval to register and release this variety was given at the recommendation of sub technical committee chairman, Prof. S. Ado for its high yield, ratoon-ability, tolerance to drought and salinity just as the variety Also noted with this FARO 73 was its ability to give an average yield advantage of about 17% over the popular local checks at the multi- locational trails which makes it a preferred variety by farmers.

The statement credited to the stakeholders within the collaborating institutions that the release and adoption of this variety will boost Nigeria’s chances of increased yield and catalyse its potential in the drive towards achieving self-sufficiency in rice production.