The Federal government has approved that Genetically Modified (GM) maize varieties be released into Nigerian markets to support it’s mission of attaining food security in the country.
Agro Climate News reports that the four varieties of the TELA Maize are said to be transgenic, insect-resistant and drought-tolerant maize.
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The varieties were developed by a team of scientists at the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Samaru, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria through the TELA Maize Public-Private Partnership coordinated by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation ( ATF ).
The approval which came through the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds/Fisheries (NCNRRCVLF) was headed by Prof Olusoji Olufajo at its 33rd meeting at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan on January 11, 2024.
Olusoji disclosed that the four varieties approved are to be identified by these codes; ” SAMMAZ 72T, SAMMAZ 73T, SAMMAZ 74T, and SAMMAZ 75T”.
Experts noted that the new maize varieties are drought tolerant and are resistant to stem-borer and fall armyworms, resulting in yield advantage of up to 10 tonnes per hectare under good agronomic practices against the national average for similar hybrids, which is 6 tonnes per hectare”
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