The Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, has announced the introduction of hybrid crop – TELA maize to improve agricultural production and boost farmers yield by about 43 per cent.
Head of Research team, IAR and Principal Investigator of the new maize variety, Professor Rabiu Adamu, during a town hall meeting with farmers in Kaduna, disclosed that the latest TELA maize hybrid will not only increase the yields of farmers, but boost food security and also ensure adequate export for the country.
Adamu recalled that the Institute had released over 60 varieties of crops to promote food security in the country, adding that TELA maize is developed to address some of the problems faced by farmers as it is resistant to drought and protect maize against fall armyworm which came into Africa in 2016 and has been ravaging maize farms in trillions of naira.
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Also speaking was the Coordinator of TELA maize project across Nigeria, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzanian, South Africa and Uganda, Dr. Sylvester Oikeh, who addressed Maize Farmers/Processors and Marketers that various trials across Africa showed that farmers that adopted the technology get more yields as much as 43 per cent.
“Currently, Nigeria plants six to 6.5 million hectares, but our yield is still at the level of an average of 1.6 tons per hectare. “In countries where they have adopted this technology, like South Africa, their yield is 5.6 tons per hectare. With the current issue of climate change, droughts are becoming more frequent, and more pest are coming in.
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“This means that, if you are growing the TELA maize, you will have more yields, if you don’t do that, you have to spray your crops against this pest, minimum of three times per season, using three different chemicals. It reduces extra cost of chemicals and spraying.”
