…it’s drought tolerant, early/medium maturing
Recently, the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, released two maize varieties: SAMMAZ 62 (Drought TEGO® WE5229) and SAMMAZ 63 (DroughtTEGO®WE5202) for Nigerian farmers.
SAMMAZ 62, which has white grain colour, is developed for adaptation in the Guinea Savanna agro-ecological zone. It includes states like Taraba, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Niger, Abuja, Kwara and parts of Benue, Kogi, Kebbi, Plateau and Oyo states.
The new variety (SAMMAZ 62) has a maturity period of 100-110 days and has a potential yield of 8.0 metric tonnes per hectare. It has an outstanding high yield and stay-green characteristics.
In terms of pest and disease reaction, it is tolerant to maize streak virus, rust, leaf blight, and curvularia leaf spot and takes between 58-60 days to develop mid-silk.
On the other hand, SAMMAZ 63 is a variety developed with similar characteristics but with a longer maturing period of 110-120 days and suitable for both Guinea Savanna and the forest ecologies.
It also has a potential yield of 8.0 metric tonnes per hectare. It is tolerant to pests and diseases such as the maize streak virus, rust, leaf blight, and curvularia leaf spot.
Professor Rabiu Adamu also said it will be available to farmers next 2022 cropping season, adding that the foundation and certified seeds will be produced during the 2021 season.
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