As irrigation approaches: Institute develops 69 rice varieties for farmers

By Vincent A. Yusuf

Next month, farmers across the country will commence irrigation activities. This year, the need for such activities is even more important in view of the losses farmers suffered from floods that ravaged farms.

Many of these farmers who have access to irrigation facilities will look forward to the start of the season to mitigate this year’s huge damage.

Last week, Daily Trust caught up with the exhibition officer of the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) Badeggi, Niger State, Mr Umar Madaki, at the National Agric Show to explain what varieties of seeds are available for farmers to consider.

The NCRI has the national mandate for genetic improvement of rice, sugarcane, soybeans, castor, acha and recently   additional mandate on stevia crop.

He said the institute has recorded tremendous achievement, most especially in the area of varietal release. For example, it has developed and released 69 varieties of rice to cover all the country’s agro-ecological zones.

“Most of our rice varieties, 90 per cent of them, are early maturing varieties because those are the interests of the farmers.

“Once they put in a crop, within three months it should be in the market so that they can make it two or three times in a season, and that’s actually what the NCRI has demonstrated.

“Among the released varieties are the long grains because those are the specifications given by rice millers. This is because when we’re releasing varieties, we incorporate some stakeholders in agricultural business, most especially in rice, so that they can have a taste and give us feedback,” he explained.

For rice millers, paddy, which is the raw material, the specification is long grain because that is what is compatible with their machines.

“When you develop and release a variety, especially rice that breaks when it comes to milling, you have not done anything. Apart from that, we also involve consumers for them to taste and also give us feedback because when you develop a variety that is not acceptable to consumers’ needs, you have done nothing.

“So those are the things that NCRI looks out for in terms of collaborations. And we showcase our technologies so that people will now know the difference between rice from the institute that has the national mandate and other rice stores and seed stores across the country.

“This is the rightful place for you to get seed as far as rice is concerned, or you can get it from reputable rice seed stores or ADPs across the country,” he stated.

On acha

For Acha, the institute developed and released two varieties recently, and the outstation based in Riyom, Plateau State, takes care of other issues, which mainly deal with agronomic practices, production and utilisation of acha.

The acha varieties released are early maturing; they are big in grain size and have all the characteristics required of acha.

Sesame

Sesame (also commonly called beniseed) is an international oil crop with lots of export potential.

The oil extracted from sesame is described as one of the purest oils because it is cholesterol free, doesn’t contain fat, doesn’t harm irrespective of one’s health status, doesn’t have an odour and doesn’t change its nature even if left to stay two to three years. It still remains the same, according to the exhibition officer.

He said so far, the institute has developed and released eight varieties of sesame—all of which are early maturing and high yielding.

Soybeans

For soybeans, the institute has developed and released 17 varieties and, “All of these varieties are farmer-friendly. Farmers-friendly in the sense that they take care of all the problems soybeans farmers encounter during the course of production, like pests and diseases.

It is resistant to shattering because if soybeans mature but are being delayed one way or the other, it affects the potential yield and that means farmers lose more than 50 per cent of their grains in the field. So the institute has developed varieties that are resistant to shattering.”