Business
Nigeria Releases Improved Cassava Varieties
Nigeria has released two improved cassava varieties in an effort to maintain its lead as the world’s largest producer of the root crop and improve incomes of farmers.
A statement made available to The Tide source last Friday showed that the varieties were developed through a collaborative effort between the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the Nigerian Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike.
The two varieties are originally recognised as IITA developed genotypes- IITA-TMS-I982132 and IITA-TMS-I011206. But with the official release, they are to be known as UMUCASS 42 and UMUCASS 43, respectively.
IITA Cassava Breeder, Dr Peter Kulakow, said, “Both varieties performed well in different cassava production regions of Nigeria with high yield, high dry matter and good disease resistance. The roots of these varieties are yellow and contain moderate levels of pro-Vitamin A. Potential maximum yield of the two varieties is between 49 and 53 tons per hectare, according to pre-varietal release trials that were conducted between 2008 and 2010.
“Local varieties produce less than 10 tons per hectare. The varieties are also resistant to major pests and diseases that affect cassava in the country including cassava mosaic disease, cassava bacterial blight, cassava anthracnose, cassava mealybug and cassava green mite.”
NRCRI Cassava Breeder Dr. Chiedozie Egesi, who presented the varieties before the Nigeria Varietal Release committee, the body in charge of officially releasing varieties, said the varieties had distinct qualities.”
According to Egesi, continuous breeding of such improved new varieties will help in stabilising production, processing and marketing of cassava products.
“The impact of these efforts will be felt in areas such as rural employment and a virile cassava industrial sector,” he added.