Nigeria Releases New Chicken Breed, 57 Crop Varieties

News in brief:

-Nigeria has approved a new chicken breed, Moorbeta, and 57 improved crop varieties to boost agricultural productivity.

-The new varieties span 14 crops, including rice, maize, yams, tomatoes, and soya beans, with traits such as disease resistance and higher yields.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the release of a newly developed chicken breed alongside 57 improved crop varieties as part of efforts to increase food production, strengthen food security and improve the nutritional well-being of Nigerians.

The announcement was made during the 36th meeting of the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds and Fisheries held in Ibadan.

The meeting was organised by the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and chaired by Soji Olufajo, who leads the National Variety Release Committee.

New Chicken Breed ‘Moorbeta’ Approved

Olufajo explained that the approval followed recommendations from two technical sub-committees responsible for reviewing new crop varieties and livestock breeds.

He said the newly approved chicken breed, named Moorbeta, is expected to contribute significantly to meat production and food supply in Nigeria.

The breed was developed by the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) in Ibadan and was approved due to its strong production characteristics.

According to researchers, Moorbeta demonstrates high body weight at 10 weeks, favourable carcass quality and heat-stress tolerance, making it suitable for Nigeria’s climatic conditions.

Crop Varieties Span 14 Major Agricultural Commodities

Alongside the chicken breed, the committee also approved 57 improved crop varieties across 14 agricultural commodities.

The crops include soya beans, yams, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, rice, pepper, eggplant, Musa species, cotton, maize, groundnut, sorghum and cowpea.

Olufajo urged farmers to take advantage of the improved seeds and planting materials to increase productivity and enhance the national food supply.

He also called on agricultural extension officers to ensure farmers are informed about the new varieties and their benefits.

Research Institutions Drive Agricultural Innovation

The crop varieties were developed and submitted by several research institutions and agricultural organisations across Nigeria.

Among them are the National Horticultural Research Institute, the National Root Crops Research Institute, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the National Cereals Research Institute.

For instance, four Musa varieties, including two plantain types named HORTIPLAN 1 and HORTIPLAN 2, and two banana varieties HORTIBAN 1 and HORTIBAN 2, were released for their high yields, long shelf life and favourable cooking qualities.

Similarly, two yam varieties, UMUDr37 and UMUDr38, developed by the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) in collaboration with IITA, were approved due to their early maturity and strong processing qualities.

New Varieties Offer Higher Yield and Climate Resilience

Other notable releases include a soya bean variety known as YSJ001, developed through collaboration between YSJ Limited and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

The variety was approved due to its high protein content, disease tolerance and favourable pod clearance.

Additional varieties approved include six onion varieties, five tomato varieties, five rice varieties and several maize, groundnut, cotton and cowpea varieties.

These varieties were selected for characteristics such as improved yield, disease resistance, drought tolerance and better adaptability to Nigeria’s climatic conditions.

Experts Encourage Adoption by Farmers

Chairman of the livestock and fisheries technical sub-committee, Waheed Akin-Hassan, said the Moorbeta chicken represents a significant step forward in improving indigenous poultry genetics in Nigeria.

He commended the contributions of animal geneticists and breeders involved in developing the breed and expressed optimism about its large-scale production potential.

Agricultural researchers, scientists, geneticists and breeders from various universities and research institutes attended the meeting, which took place at the Lafia Hotel conference hall in Ibadan.