FG releases 19 high yield crop varieties, 1 chicken breed

The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has released 19 new high yield crop varieties to enhance agricultural production. The National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) approved the release at its 26th meeting held at its secretariat at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan. NACGRAB’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Dr Sunday Aladele, […]

The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has released 19 new high yield crop varieties to enhance agricultural production.

The National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) approved the release at its 26th meeting held at its secretariat at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan.

NACGRAB’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Dr Sunday Aladele, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan that an indigenous chicken breed was also approved for registration and release.

Aladele said the chicken breed submitted by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), was a dual purpose (egg and meat) livestock breed called FUNAAB Alpha Chicken.

The Registrar said the chicken breed had performance characteristics such as body weight, egg weight and survivability surpassing those of existing Nigerian local chickens.

He said the Chairman of the NVRC, Chief Oladosu  Awoyemi, announced the release of the chicken breed and the 19 crop varieties out of the 21 submitted for consideration during the meeting.