FG releases 15 new crop varieties to farmers

The crops were officially released at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan, during the 22nd meeting of National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds/Fisheries. Announcing the release, Prof. Soji Olufajo, the Chairman, National Technical Sub-Committee (crops) said the crops were approved out of a total of […]

The crops were officially released at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan, during the 22nd meeting of National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds/Fisheries.
Announcing the release, Prof. Soji Olufajo, the Chairman, National Technical Sub-Committee (crops) said the crops were approved out of a total of 18 varieties given to the sub-committee.
Olufajo said the newly released crops were developed by Nigerian and foreign Scientists, universities, seed companies and research institutes.
He said the new crop varieties included two elite upland rice variety (Faro 64 and Faro 65), three tomato hybrids (KILELE, CHIBLI and TYLKA) and five maize hybrids varieties (SAMMAZ 43, SAMMAZ 44, SC651, and two Ife maize hybrids).
Olufajo said others are one Aflatoxin resistant maize variety (SAMMAZ 45), two cowpea varieties (SAMPEA 16 and SAMPEA 17) and two wheat varieties (LACRI WHIT-7 and LACRI WHIT – 8).
On the rice varieties, he said both Faro 64 and Faro 65 were recommended for release based on early maturity, high yield and drought tolerance.
Speaking on the three tomato varieties, Olufajo said KILELE was recommended for release based on high yield, firm fruits and tolerance to Fusarium wilt and late blight.
He said CHIBLI tomato variety was recommended for release based on high grain yield, firm fruits, high brix and tolerance to Fusarium wilt and late blight.
Olufajo said TYLKA tomato was recommended for release based on high yield, firm fruits and tolerance to Verticillium Fusarium wilt as well as grey leaf spot.
On the maize varieties, the chairman said SAMMAZ 43 was recommended for release, based on intermediate levels of pro – vitamin A content (8.4ug/g) and high grain yield.
Olufajo said SAMMAZ 44 was recommended for release based on intermediate levels of Pro-vitamin A content (8.8ug/g) and high grain yield.
With respect to SAMMAZ 45, he said it was recommended for release based on resistance to aflatoxin and high grain yield.
Olufajo said SC651 maize was recommended for release based on high yield potential and tolerance to drought and Striga hermonthica.
He said IFE Maize HYB – 08 and IFE Maize HYB- 09 were recommended for release based on high grain yield.
On cowpea, Olufajo said both varieties SAMPEA 16 and SAMPEA 17 were recommended for release based on early maturity, resistance to Alectra and tolerance to Striga and drought.
Speaking on the wheat varieties, he said LACRI WHIT – 7 and LACRI WHIT – 8 were recommended for release based on high yield, tolerance to septoria leaf and glume blotch diseases, and good baking quality.
In his speech, Dr Sunday Aladele, Registrar of NACGRAB thanked the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) and International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for support received towards the hosting of the meeting.
Aladele added that Lake Chad Research Institute, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and AfricaRice also promised to support the meeting in the future.
The Registrar said the TSC Crops was not pleased with the late submission of materials for consideration to the secretariat by some scientists/institutions and directed that henceforth, nominations should reach the Secretariat at least two months before the meeting.
The meeting was presided over by the Chairman, National Varieties Release Committee, Chief Oladosu Awoyemi and attended by scientists and developers of the new crop varieties or their representatives.
Awoyemi, in his brief remarks, commended National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan for developing the three varieties of tomato, adding that vegetable varieties had not been developed for a long time.   
He then urged developers and research institutes to develop more vegetable and fruit varieties in addition to popular crop varieties.
Among the developers of the 15 new crop varieties were the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IART), Ibadan, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, and the National Rice/Maize Centre.
Others are National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) Badeggi, AfricaRice Nigeria, University of Ibadan, Sygenta Seed Nigeria Ltd., National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria, and University of Ilorin.
There are also developers from NACGRAB, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago – Iwoye, Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, Seed Company West Africa Ltd, Abuja, Southern Regional Research Centre (SRRC), USA and International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Sudan.