Agric institute releases 3 crop varieti

The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has released three varieties of cops, last year.
Director of institute, Dr Ahmed Falaki, said at opening ceremony of this year’s cropping scheme meeting held at the Institute yesterday.
He said the Varieties so far released by his institute last year included 1 variety of Maize (SAMMAZ-40) and two varieties of groundnut (SAMNUT-25 and SAMNUT-26).
Falaki explained that equally the institute was set to introduce bio-fortified crop varieties aimed at enhancing nutrition and boost natural immunity.

He said: “Our biotechnology research has advanced to on-station and in no distance future, we shall once more blaze the trail with bio-fortified crop varieties that will enhance our nutrition and boost our natural immunity.
“Already, the institute had earlier released Quality Protein and Pro-Vitamin A variety.”
The director noted that it was heart-warming to note that IAR was making steady progress through its Agricultural Research Outreach Centres (AROCs), with two adopted schools and two villages.
According to him, the schools are Government Girls’ Secondary School, Samaru, and Government Secondary School, Bomo, while the villages included Jaja and Tudun Muntsira, where the institute’s technology was demonstrated students and farmers.
He further explained that the institute had long standing tradition evolving research projects and developing technologies that were farmer and user-friendly.

Also speaking, at the occasion the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Baba Abubakar, enumerated some achievements of his council to include reducing poverty amongst Nigerians.
Abubakar, who was represented by a Deputy Director, Dr (Mrs) Catherine Alao, said the council had assisted Nigerians through the promotion of agricultural development.

Others, he said, were creating market competitiveness and strengthen research in agriculture.
Earlier, in his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof  Abdullahi Mustapha, said the institute had remained the backbone of agricultural research not only in the North-west Agro-ecological zone but to the entire nation in terms of its national mandate.
Mustapha, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Amos Adamu, attributed the collapse of manufacturing sector being witnessed today to shortage and poor investment in agriculture.