The Federal Government has released improved varieties of pepper, tomato, and 27 other crops to farmers.
This is aimed at enhancing food production and provide farmers with access to high-yielding, disease-tolerant crops.
The release was made on Thursday during the 35th meeting of the National committee on naming, registration, and release of crop varieties, livestock breeds/fisheries.
In addition, eight pasture varieties, comprising six grasses and two legumes were approved for retroactive registration.
The meeting, organised by the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), was held at Lafia Hotel, Ibadan.
Chairman of the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC), Prof. Soji Olufajo, who presided over the session, announced the registration and release of the 29 new crop varieties based on recommendations from the committee’s technical sub-committee.
The technical sub-committee, led by Prof. Shehu Ado, had earlier deliberated on the proposed varieties during its 38th meeting held on Tuesday at the same venue.
Following extensive consideration, the sub-committee recommended all varieties for release, which were subsequently approved by the NVRC.
Olufajo noted that the newly registered varieties were submitted by research institutes, universities, and private seed companies.
The crops include pepper, tomato, maize, rice, cowpea, millet, wheat, sesame, barley, and soybean.
Among the new releases are two pepper varieties—HORTIPEP1 and HORTIPEP2—developed by the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan.
These were approved based on high yield potential, medium maturity, strong pungency, and aromatic qualities.
Two tomato varieties, also developed by NIHORT, were released due to their superior fruit quality, tolerance to fruit cracking, and adaptability to open-field rainfed cultivation.
Six rice varieties—ETG M401, ETG M601, SAMMAZ 77, 19C11934 (SC451), 16C34878 (SC563), and 18C2450 (SC618), were additionally released for their high yields, high zinc content, and good grain quality.
Other varieties approved include, cowpea: UAM15-2157-4 and ALKAM Super, Barley: LACRISAMBarley4, LACRISAMBarley5, and LACRISAMBarley6 and Hybrid Rice: FARO 71, FARO 72, and ADVANTA 8200.
The primary considerations for registration and release were high yields, early maturity, and disease resistance.
Representing the farmers, Mr Samuel Adeyinka called on the committee to collaborate more closely with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to ensure farmers were informed about and had access to the newly released varieties.
He emphasised that the committee’s efforts would only be meaningful if the improved varieties reach the farmers who need them.
Adeyinka also encouraged farmer associations to stay alert for newly released crop types that could enhance productivity.
In his remarks, NACGRAB Director, Dr Anthony Okere, expressed optimism that the new varieties would support the federal government’s goal of achieving national food security.
He added that the retroactive registration of pasture varieties would support improved ranching systems, potentially reducing farmer-herder conflicts.
The meeting was attended by researchers, plant breeders, scientists, university representatives, seed companies, officials from the federal ministries of agriculture and science and technology, and farmer representatives.
NAN
