The National Varieties Release Committee (NVRC) has released 49 high-yielding crop varieties of 11 crops submitted for registration, release and consideration, by the Nigerian research institutes and private sector seed companies, to boost Nigeria’s agricultural productivity.
The approval for the release of the new crop varieties was announced in Ibadan by the NVRC chairman, Oladosu Awoyemi, during its 30th meeting of the National Committee on naming, registration and release of crop varieties, livestock breed/fishes.
National Variety Release Committee is a committee established to satisfy the suitability of new varieties based on the reports of the relevant research institute after testing such varieties across the ecological zones for which it is recommended.
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The recommendations would then be evaluated by the NVRC, then finally to the National Agricultural Seeds Council and Input supply companies for further processing, packaging and final distribution across the country for the use of the farmers.
“The released crop varieties include two rice hybrids namely Arize 6444 Gold and Arize TEJ Gold.Two high protein-rich oat varieties namely SAMOAT 1 and SAMOAT 2, three Durum wheat varieties namely LACRI-WHIT 12D and LACRI- WHIT 13D,”.
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Also released are three “proVitamin A” hybrids cassava, namely; UMUCASS 52, UMUCASS 53 and UMUCASS 54. Nineteen maize varieties namely ILOMAZ 2; HAKIM 1, HAKIM 2; HAKIM 3; DK7500; SAMMAZ 64, 65, 66, 67; Drought TECO WE8206; WACQH6, WAC55E, WAC14M5, among others.” Awoyemi said.
The Director-General of National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Olusegun Ojo remarked that the 49 crops that have been officially released by the committee would be passed on to the council for wide multiplication of the crop for distribution to all farmers across the country.
