AFAN Lagos Hails 57 New Crop Varieties Amid Food Security Push

News in Brief

-AFAN Lagos Chairman Sakin Agbayewa lauded  Nigeria’s approval of 57 new crop varieties, describing it as a yield-boosting breakthrough. -The association praised local researchers for homegrown solutions and called for massive awareness campaigns.

The Lagos State Chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has commended the Federal Government's recent approval of 57 new, improved crop varieties aimed at bolstering agricultural productivity and tackling food insecurity across the country. 

Chairman of AFAN Lagos State Chapter, Mr Sakin Agbayewa, gave the commendation during an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He highlighted how the varieties, selected for their early maturity, higher yields, and resilience against pests and diseases, represent a game-changer for crop farming in Nigeria.

AFAN Lauds Breakthrough in Crop Varieties

Agbayewa conveyed the association's enthusiasm about the transformative potential of areas like Lagos, where farmers grapple with limited land amid urban expansion. 

“We are excited to hear about the 57 new varieties of crops recently approved,” he stated, explaining that modern farming prioritises yield per plot over land size. “A farmer can have a plot of land and have a high yield, and another can have big plots of land and have a low yield.” 

He described the initiative as a pivotal development for crop cultivation, poised to address Nigeria's looming food shortages.

“As an association, the introduction of the 57 crop is a good development for crop cultivation. It will help to curb the food insecurity we are talking about and the shortage of food in the near future. It is a good one,” he stated.

He pointed to persistent hurdles like climate change, erratic rainfall, and weather disruptions that have eroded yields, underscoring the need for resilient seeds.

“Issues such as climate change effects, inconsistent rainfall patterns and weather clash among others are affecting farmers’ yield. So, what we want now is to have improved crop varieties that will give us higher yield,” he revealed. “Improved seed varieties, as well as improved seedlings, will always give you a higher yield on minimal land. You can barely imagine the higher yield farmers with larger land size will get with improved seedling varieties.” 

This move aligns with broader national goals, as the varieties are tailored for Nigeria's diverse agro-ecologies, from the humid south to the drier north, enhancing nutrition and productivity without relying on imports.

Call for Advocacy and Local Research

To maximise impact, Agbayewa urged widespread promotion.

“This newly approved 57 crop varieties should, however, be popularised among local farmers because not everyone is aware of this latest development,” he said.

He advocated for massive advocacy so that all farmers will be able to benefit from their labour while providing food for the nation. 

“We are excited that these new crop varieties were developed in Nigeria and not by foreigners. It shows that our researchers are now waking up. The government is now waking up to their responsibility,” the association leader stated. He explained that this reduces fear of genetically modified organisms. In addition, he called for sustained research. 

Stakeholders, including extension agents, are now tasked with disseminating seeds and training, a critical step for adoption in states like Lagos, where urban farming demands high-efficiency inputs.

About the New Crop Varieties 

The newly approved crops, announced in March 2026 following the 36th meeting of the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) in Ibadan, Oyo State, include advancements in key staples vital to Nigerian farmers and consumers.

The 57 varieties cover 14 staple crops, with significant innovations in rice, maize, yams, soybeans, and plantain, crops that form the backbone of Nigeria's food security and rural economies. Other beneficiaries include tomato, onion, pepper, cowpea, groundnut, sorghum, cotton, potato, eggplant, and plantain/banana hybrids noted for heat tolerance, disease resistance, early maturation, and extended shelf life.

These releases build on ongoing efforts by institutions like the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), which contributed varieties such as high-oleic groundnuts and provitamin A-rich maize like SAMMAZ 78.