The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, has released 17 improve seeds varieties towards enhancing employment generation and boosting nutrition and food security.
Prof. Ado Yusuf, Institute’s Director made this known during the 2024 Annual Research Review and Planning Meeting (ARRPM) and the Research Extension Farmers Linkage Input Systems (REFILS), in Zaria on Tuesday.
The director said that the institute had imbibed the use of cutting-edge technologies using the tools of biotechnology, to develop and release climate smart crop varieties for the benefit of farmers.
“We have recently introduced 17 new crop varieties to our existing collection at the Institute to better serve farmers’ requirements.
“This release include, four transgenic maize varieties: SAMMAZ 72T, SAMMAZ 73T, SAMMAZ 74T, and SAMMAZ 75T prized for their high yield and resistance to the fall army worm.
“We have also added one pro-vitamin A maize hybrid SAMMAZ 70 and an Aflatoxin-resistant maize SAMMAZ 71,”he said.
He said that in addition to these maize varieties, the institute unveiled a high-yielding castor variety, SAMCAS 1 and three oat varieties.
Yusuf further said the institute was also working on nutritionally enhanced varieties to improve nutrition security among Nigerians, as well as developing new food products in response to changing global consumption pattern.
The director said one of the unique components of the meeting was to bring key stakeholders in the Agricultural sector with a view to set the pace for Nigeria’s Agricultural policies.
In his remarks, Prof. Kabiru Bala, Vice-Chanellor, ABU described the theme of the meeting ‘Leveraging on Excellence in Agricultural Research and Technology for Sustainable Economic Development in Nigeria” as apt.
Bala, represented by Prof. Mohammed-Sani Shehu, Provost College of Health Sciences, added that the theme was in line with the Presidential initiative for Agricultural Policy on Food sufficiency and Food Security.
He commended the exemplary leadership of President Bola Tinubu for matching his words with action by putting 70,000 hectares to use and expanding to 123,000 hectares during the current season.
“We in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria are also committed to Mr President’s Agricultural Agenda.
“Staff of the University have been allocated quarter of a hectare from the farmland within the University for cultivation of cover crops like beans (cowpea) and soyabeans as well as short/low height crops,” he said
