In a significant move to boost Nigeria’s Agricultural innovation and food security, the Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI) recently convene a Pre-release seminar in Maiduguri to unveil new improved varieties of Wheat, Millet and Barley. The event marked a pivotal step in the journey towards the official registration, naming and release of these high-performing crop varieties by the National Committee on the Naming, Registration and Release of Crop varieties and Animal breeds Fisheries. .
The seminar featured presentation by Dr. Kachalla Kyari Mala on Three (3) Bread Wheat candidates developed in partnership with SEED CO Nigeria, a leading seed company known for its work on crop improvement. Additionally, Three (3) Barley candidates developed in conjunction with the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University Zaria were also presented. There was also presentation by Dr. Maryam Abba Dawud on Four (4) fortified hybrid millet varieties developed in collaboration with HarvestPlus, an International organization focused on biofortification for better nutrition.
The event attracted a wide range of participants including agricultural scientists from the Institute that include the Director/CEO Prof. Baba Gana Jugudum Kabir, Director Research, Dr. Zakari Turaki, Dr. Sheriff Wali amongst others, academics from the University that included Prof. Dattijo Aminu, a Professor of Crop Breeding and Genetics and Dr. Ibrahim Galadima all of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri and key stakeholders in the Seed development and improvement sector. Discussions centered on three market segments namely agronomic performance, nutritional benefits and commercialization prospects of the new varieties.
Addressing the participants, the Director/CEO Prof. Baba Gana Jugudum Kabir said, the pre-release seminar serves as a critical phase in the formal variety release process, providing platform for peer review, stakeholders feedback- and alignment with national agricultural goals. The Initiative he said is expected to contribute significantly to the development of climate-resilient and nutritient -rich crops suited for the diverse agro-ecological zones of Nigeria.
Experts at the seminar lauded the collaborations behind the varieties as a model for effective public-private partnership in agricultural research and development. With food security high on the national agenda, the efforts by LCRI and its partners highlights the growing momentum behind agricultural innovation in Nigeria, offering hope for increased productivity and improved livelihoods for millions of farmers.