Research Institute Releases Two New Rice Varieties Capable of Producing 10 Tonnes per Hectare
As part of efforts to bolster food security in the country, the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger State, has released two new rice varieties capable of producing up to ten tonnes per hectare to Nigerian farmers. The Executive Director of NCRI, Dr. Aliyu Umar, who disclosed this during a media briefing in Badeggi on Monday, said the new varieties are; TEGGOLD and 6444GOLD. According to him, each of the new varieties can produce 10 tonnes per hectare higher than the 5-6 tonnes per hectare yield of the old varieties. Umar said the development was in fulfillment of the mandate of the Institute, adding that the new varieties were developed by improving on the local varieties producing between 1.2 to 1.5 tonnes per hectare. Also, the executive director informed of the release of two new varieties each of Acha and castor seed to the farmers across the country. The NCRI boss named the new varieties of Acha and Castor Seed as NCRIAH1 and NCRIAH2, and NCRICAS1 and NCRICAS2 respectively. His words: “These major research breakthroughs are expected to boost the yield of farmers and further boost food security. “Each research institute in Nigeria has a mandate to conduct cost effective research for improved rice, sugarcane and benniseed. “Castor seed was recently added to the institute, because of our output in stevia crop which is also a sweetener crop just like sugarcane. “Since we came on board, our first breakthrough was the inauguration of the NCRI mouth piece in the form of a research journal.” Umar, therefore, called for more support in attaining food security for the nation, in line with the mandate of the institute.
