To boost agricultural output and enhance Nigerians’ nutritional condition, the Federal Government has introduced 14 new high-yield crop types and two new poultry breeds.
AFRIPOST reports that the new chicken breeds and crop varieties were unveiled on Thursday at the 34th meeting of the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds/Fisheries.
Members of the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC), together with researchers, geneticists, scientists, and breeders, attended the conference, which was chaired by Prof. Soji Olufajo.
According to Olufajo, the two new chicken breeds and the kinds of seven crops were registered and released based on the recommendations of its two technical subcommittees.
According to him, high-yield crops include wheat, barley, maize, cassava, rice Castor, and conscious, while the new chicken breeds include Noiler and Cobb 500.
At its 38th meeting on Tuesday, the technical subcommittee, which was led by Prof. S. Ado, discussed the 19 types that were received.
Following discussion and evaluation of the 19 submissions, the subcommittee suggested 14 types, which were then presented to the NVRC for final approval during the meeting on Thursday.
Similarly, the technical subcommittee discussed the two new chicken breeds that were received during its ninth meeting on Wednesday.
According to the subcommittee, which was led by Prof. Waheed Akin-Hassan, the Cobb 500 was a meat-type chicken breed, while the Noiler was a domestically produced dual-purpose chicken.
After that, the NVRC reviewed and approved the suggestions made by the two technical subcommittees.
Following discussion and careful consideration of the proposals made, the NVRC declared the registration and release of the two new chicken breeds and the fourteen new crop types.
The release and registration of the breeds are to make it official, he said, adding that the two breeds were already in the hands of end users, including consumers, researchers, and poultry producers.
Dr Anthony Okere, the Director of NACGRAB, stated in his remarks that he was hopeful the crop varieties’ release and registration would improve the nation’s food sufficiency.
To allow them to produce both quantity and quality with minimal stress, Okere encouraged farmers to embrace the recently introduced crops.
He praised the research institutes and other organisations that helped make the gathering possible.
(NAN)
