Expert promotes use of vitamin ‘A’ fortified maize seed

A new variety of maize seeds fortified with vitamin ‘A’ has been introduced in the north-western part of the country by Green Sahel Agro, a cooperative firm with the support of Harvest Plus in Nigeria, to enhance the nutritional value of maize as a food crop. According to Green Sahel’s Coordinator, Muhammad Ahmad Adamu, they […]

A new variety of maize seeds fortified with vitamin ‘A’ has been introduced in the north-western part of the country by Green Sahel Agro, a cooperative firm with the support of Harvest Plus in Nigeria, to enhance the nutritional value of maize as a food crop.

According to Green Sahel’s Coordinator, Muhammad Ahmad Adamu, they are propagating the new variety through identifying the out-grower farmers who produced the foundation seeds with all certified criteria in an attempt to reduce the nutritional deficiency of vitamin ‘A’.

He added that the desire of the project was to directly increase the intake of vitamin ‘A’ in children and lactating mothers in the northern part, which he said wiould check eye- related challenges.

The coordinator further stated that the inputs and the market had already been studied and that an MoU had been signed with a Kano-based food company, Dala Foods, to take possession of the produce and process it.

A maize specialist, Yusuf Dollah, from Harvest Plus, who are supporting the scheme; said  a research showed that Maize was the staple food for the north, while cassava was widely eaten in the southern parts, and that vitamin ‘A’-fortified cassava and maize were developed.