The Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, (IAR&T), Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Oyo State, has released four newly developed crop varieties to farmers after receiving the certification of release from the National Committee on Naming, Registration, and Release of Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds.
Speaking during a press briefing organized by the institute to announce the release, the Executive Director of IAR&T, Prof. Veronica Obatolu, stated that those new species have enormous potential to attain industrial growth, economic diversification, as well as food and nutritional security.
IAR&T is a national multi-commodity research center established to serve the needs of Nigerian farmers in general and farmers in South-Western region in particular, within the context of its integrated agricultural resources development and training strategy.
NVRC Releases Additional 49 High-Yielding Crop Varieties
Through an effective agricultural research and extension system, the institute investigates maize, grain legumes, and livestock for the development and transfer of appropriate demand-driven agricultural technologies that are eco-friendly, affordable, and adaptable.
The director boasted that the institute has developed a lot of technologies and innovations that have been extensively deployed to build the capacity of farmers and entrepreneurs through its training and empowerment programs.
HarvestPlus releases 18 bio-fortified food varieties in Nigeria
Obatolu went on to appreciate the Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture for the funding support. She also acknowledged the significant role of farmers in the evaluation of the new varieties during the on-farm trials.
She highlighted the newly released crop varieties, including the high yielding Kenaf variety — ARTKEN 211; brown blotch tolerant varieties of Cowpea — ART/BBT/22/W (Boluyo); ART/BBT/72/B (Remilekun); and the Modupe variety, while urging farmers to take advantage of the new technologies to increase cultivation for improved livelihood.
