Research outputs by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and its national partners are yielding positive results in Nigeria and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, according to the country’s Technical Sub Committee on the Release of Crop Varieties.
The committee, which certifies and assesses the performance of released crop varieties in the country, noted that improved varieties developed by IITA had contributed significantly in raising crops’ yield and increasing farmers’ incomes in many parts of Nigeria.
This has, consequently, earned Nigeria the position of not only the largest world producer of cassava but has also resulted in significant gains in maize, yams, soybean, plantain, banana, and cowpea production.
“Improved varieties by IITA are performing well in farmers’ fields because breeding has always been targeted at particular ecological zones and specific production constraints relating to pests and diseases. For example, maize varieties that are drought-tolerant are targeted for the drought-prone regions, while stemborer-resistant varieties makes it possible for maize to thrive in the southeastern zone of the country where stemborers are a major challenge,” said Prof. Peter Oyekan, Chairman, Technical Sub-Committee of Crop Varieties Release in Nigeria.
“Others are high yielding cassava varieties, improved hybrid yam varieties, Striga and Alectra resistant cowpea and soybean rust-resistant varieties. All these are doing well and they are making it possible to increase agric production,” he added during a courtesy visit to IITA headquarters in Ibadan.
Oyekan, who was accompanied by the Director/Chief Executive Officer, National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Mr. Wasiu Odofin, said the adoption of IITA improved varieties by farmers had been high and impressive but added that the government needed to support the seed industry to promote the dissemination of improved varieties.
On plans by Nigeria to fast track the release of varieties, Oyekan said Nigeria had cut the time taken to release improved varieties to farmers from about five years to between two and three years.
Meanwhile the NACGRAB has called for a closer working relationship with IITA especially in the conservation of the country’s genetic resources.
Odofin said collaboration between the two institutes would create synergy that would better research and improve efficiency in the use of resources.
He commended IITA for the capacity building offered to Nigerian scientists and called for more of such opportunities in the future.
In his words, “NACGRAB is building its core scientists and we need IITA support to strengthen our capacities.”
Dr. Paula Bramel, IITA Deputy-Director, Research, while receiving the delegation, reiterated the institute’s goals of reducing poverty in Africa. She also said the institute remained open to partnerships as part of its strategy aimed at improving the livelihoods of farmers.
###
Pour plus d'informations, veuillez contacter :
Godwin Atser, g.atser@cgiar.org
Chargé de la communication d'entreprise (Afrique de l'Ouest)
Jeffrey T. Oliver, o.jeffrey@cgiar.org
Chargé de communication d'entreprise (international)
Bureau de la communication
IITA – Siège
Ibadan, Nigéria
URL : www.iita.org
À propos de l'IITA
L'Afrique est confrontée à des problèmes complexes qui minent l'agriculture et la vie des populations. Nous développons des solutions agricoles avec nos partenaires pour lutter contre la faim et la pauvreté. Nos recherches pour le développement (R4D), maintes fois récompensées, reposent sur une réflexion ciblée et autorisée, ancrée dans les besoins de développement de l'Afrique subsaharienne. Nous travaillons avec des partenaires en Afrique et au-delà pour réduire les risques pour les producteurs et les consommateurs, améliorer la qualité et la productivité des cultures, et générer de la richesse grâce à l'agriculture. L'IITA est une organisation internationale de R4D à but non lucratif créée en 1967, dirigée par un Conseil d'administration et soutenue principalement par le CGIAR.
Contribué par
Histoires récentes