The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced a new chicken breed, Moorbeta, and 57 improved crop varieties to boost meat production, enhance food security, and improve nutritional standards.
The announcement was made at the 36th meeting of the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds/Fisheries in Ibadan.
The new chicken breed is designed to tolerate heat stress and has high body weight at 10 weeks, while the crop varieties include soyabean, yam, potato, onion, tomato, rice, pepper, eggplant, and maize.
The meeting, organised by the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), was chaired by the Chairman of the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC), Prof. Soji Olufajo.
Olufajo explained that the release and registration of the chicken breed and the 57 high-yielding crop varieties, drawn from 14 crops, followed recommendations by two technical sub-committees.
He said that the new chicken breed and crop varieties would have a great impact on food production in the country, advising farmers to enjoy the opportunity by obtaining improved seeds and adapted materials.
Olufajo called on agricultural extension agents to ensure that farmers were aware of new and upcoming developments in terms of greater production in the country.
He charged research institutes, breeders, geneticists and other stakeholders to keep up doing what would enhance the growth and development of agriculture in Nigeria.
According to him, the new chicken breed is ‘Moorbeta’, while the crops comprise soyabean, yam, potato, onion, tomato, rice, pepper, eggplant, Musa spp, cotton, maize, groundnut, sorghum and cowpea.
Earlier, the technical sub-committee on naming, registration and release of crop varieties, chaired by Prof. Shehu Ado, had at its 40th meeting on Tuesday considered 59 submissions.
Following deliberations, 57 varieties were recommended and forwarded to the NVRC for final approval at Thursday’s session.
Also, the technical sub-committee on naming, registration and release of livestock breeds/fisheries, at its 10th meeting on Wednesday, examined the single chicken breed submitted.
The sub-committee, chaired by Prof. Waheed Akin-Hassan, stated that the new chicken breed, ‘Moorbeta’, was a locally developed meat-type chicken.
He said there would be a mass production of the breed because of its great potential.
Akin-Hassan noted that efforts on the performance of the nation’s indigenous chicken had been known for so long.
He commended all animal geneticists and breeders who contributed to the area, describing the new chicken breed as a mid-class type.
The sub-committee subsequently presented its recommendations to the NVRC for approval.
PlatinumPost reports that the new chicken was bred by the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan.
It was released and registered based on its unique characteristic of high body weight at 10 weeks, good carcass characteristics and tolerance to heat stress.
Among the newly approved crop varieties are four Musa spp. types — two plantains and two bananas — developed by the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan.
The plantain varieties, HORTIPLAN 1 and 2, were released for their heavy bunches, yellow pulp, excellence for boiling, frying, roasting, flour-making, long shelf life, and high carotenoid content.
The banana varieties, HORTIBAN 1 and 2, were approved for their good sweet taste, thick peel, big pulp, and intermediate bract apex shape.
Also released was one soyabean variety (YSJ001), developed by YSJ Limited in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, noted for its good pod clearance, high protein content and tolerance to diseases.
Two yam varieties, (UMUDr37) and (UMUDr38), sponsored by the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia, in collaboration with IITA, Ibadan, were also approved.
These two yam varieties were released based on early maturity, good pounding quality, and excellent boiling quality, among other qualities.
A potato variety (Connect) from NRCRI was approved for its large tubers, resistance to late blight and suitability for table use.
In addition, six onion varieties — HORTIONI 1, 2, 3 (dry season) and HORTIONI 4, 5, 6 (wet season) — developed by NIHORT, were released for their high pungency, large bulb size and disease resistance.
Five tomato varieties — HORTITOM 6 and 7, SP TOM 1, 2 and 3 — were also approved based on heat tolerance, early maturity, disease resistance and adaptability to both dry and rainy conditions.
The committee also approved five rice varieties: FARO 73; SG rice 1 and 2; MIP 5803 and 4802.
These were developed by the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Abuja, and foreign partners.
The NVRC approved the release and registration of the rice varieties for their long, slender grains and good tillering drought tolerance, among other benefits.
Further approvals included one pepper variety (SP PEP 1) and three eggplant varieties (HORTICUM 1, 2 and 3), all developed by NIHORT.
They were approved based on early maturity of between 55 and 65 days (pepper); high vitamin C content, and early maturing for the eggplant.
Other approved crops include 15 maize varieties, four groundnut varieties, one proprietary sorghum variety, four public cowpea varieties and six proprietary cotton varieties.
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