Institute releases new varieties of maize, sorghum, groundnut

The Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Samaru, Zaria in Kaduna State has released a number of new varieties of maize that might interest farmers across the country. Dr Aminu Ibrahim, Head of Extension unit of the institute, who spoke with Daily Trust at the just concluded National Agricultural show, said three varieties of maize were […]

The Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Samaru, Zaria in Kaduna State has released a number of new varieties of maize that might interest farmers across the country.
Dr Aminu Ibrahim, Head of Extension unit of the institute, who spoke with Daily Trust at the just concluded National Agricultural show, said three varieties of maize were released in January this year (2016) – Sam Maize 43, Sam Maize 44 and Sam Maize 45.
Sam Maize 43 and 44, according to him, are high breed maize fortified with vitamin A with potential yield of six to seven tonnes per hectare, while the Sam Maize 45 is an open pollinated variety which can give four to five tonnes per hectare. It is also fortified with vitamin A.
Also, the institute has released another new variety of sorghum; the Sam sorgh 47 and 48.  The Sam sorgh 47 is also fortified with vitamin A and has high yielding malt content.
Dr Ibrahim said the malting companies now depend on sorghum which has higher malting capacity for their malt drink production, adding that the institute was collaborating with malting companies and other donor agencies to produce such varieties.
Dr Ibrahim said the institute also released a new variety of groundnut which is the Sam nut 26. The new groundnut variety has a higher yield of oil and hums. At the same time, it is multipurpose – you can have your hums which can be used in feeding your animals and which can still remain green after harvesting. “You know the usual hum used to go dark after harvesting but the one we have now will remain green from the time of harvest till the time you store it,” he said.
“Farmers can get all these new varieties in our institute. In our institute, we have a seed production unit which has a mandate of multiplying the breeder seeds into certified seeds. So farmers can walk into our institute and buy the certified seeds from us,” he said.