IBADAN – In a decisive move to combat food inflation and enhance the nutritional well-being of citizens, the Federal Government has officially announced the registration and release of a new indigenous chicken breed alongside 57 high-yield crop varieties.
The announcement was made on Thursday during the 36th meeting of the National Committee on Naming, Registration, and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds, and Fisheries, held in Ibadan. The session, presided over by the Chairman of the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC), Mr. Soji Olufajo, marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s agricultural research sector.
The ‘Moorbeta’ Breakthrough
The highlight of the livestock release is the ‘Moorbeta’, a locally developed meat-type chicken bred by the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan. Described by experts as a “mid-class type,” the Moorbeta was specifically selected for its impressive weight gain—reaching high body mass within just 10 weeks—and its remarkable tolerance to heat stress, a critical factor for poultry farming in Nigeria’s climate.
Professor Waheed Akin-Hassan, Chairman of the Livestock Technical Sub-committee, emphasized the breed’s potential for mass production, noting that it represents years of dedicated work by Nigerian geneticists to improve the performance of indigenous poultry.
Diversifying the National Food Basket
Beyond livestock, the NVRC approved 57 new varieties across 14 different crops, reviewed from an initial 59 submissions. These varieties include staples such as rice, yam, maize, potato, and cassava, as well as horticultural crops like tomato, onion, and pepper.
Key highlights of the released crops include:
- Musa Species: Four new varieties (two plantains: HORTIPLAN 1 & 2; two bananas: HORTIBAN 1 & 2) from the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), praised for their heavy bunches and long shelf life.
- Root & Tuber: Two yam varieties (UMUDr37 and UMUDr38) from the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) in collaboration with IITA, released for their early maturity and excellent pounding quality.
- Cereals: Five new rice varieties (including FARO 73 and SG rice 1 & 2) recognized for their drought tolerance and high tillering capacity.
- Vegetables: New heat-tolerant tomato and onion varieties designed to thrive in both dry and rainy seasons.
A Call to Action for Farmers
Mr. Olufajo urged farmers and agricultural extension agents to capitalize on these innovations. “The release of these varieties will have a great impact on food production,” he stated, advising stakeholders to ensure that improved seeds and adapted materials reach the hands of those in the fields.
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The Director of the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), which organized the meeting, reiterated that these developments are essential for achieving the “Back to the Farm” initiative championed by the presidency to curb food import dependence.
The meeting concluded with a charge to research institutes and breeders to maintain the momentum in developing climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive innovations to secure the nation’s future.
