Lagos: Maize researchers have presented a blueprint on doubling maize production to the Nigerian Government, PANA reported from here Monday. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) said the document, which contained empirical facts and recommendations, proved that Nigeria could double its maize production from the current eight million tonnes per year to 20 million tonnes.
The blueprint, prepared by a research group, Doubling Maize Project, called for the strengthening of the country’s seed system to tackle the food crisis confronting the world. "The recommendations should be taken seriously because if implemented and sustained, they would bring solutions to the food crisis especially as it concerns maize production,” the IITA statement quoted Prof. M.A. Fakorede, a maize researcher at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, south west Osun state, as saying.
Dr. Oyewole Ajala, team leader and IITA’s Maize Breeder, sought government support for the seed sector to overcome the limitation poised by poor seed supply to farmers. “Nigeria today is the only country in West Africa that has viable private seed companies and they need support and backstopping to consistently supply quality seeds to farmers,” Ajala said.
The IITA statement noted that poor seed supply, inefficient marketing system and low investment in research-for-development were among the factors limiting maize production in Nigeria. The statement said the research, which involved more than 1,000 farmers, raised yield per hectare to about 4.2 tonnes, up from 1.5 tonnes. According to IITA, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Water Resources, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, applauded the research team for its efforts. It quoted Njeze as saying that apart from ensuring food security, the research was in line with the Federal Government’s seven-point agenda.
The Doubling Maize Research Project began in 2006 and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Project partners included the IITA, National Rice and Maize Centre and Institute for Agricultural Research. The others are the National Cereals Research Institute, the University of Ilorin and the National Agricultural Extension & Research Liaison Services (NAERLS).
The research team deployed several newly-developed maize varieties, including those that were drought-tolerant, low nitrogen-tolerant, striga-tolerant, stemborer-resistant and early maturing varieties to mitigate the challenges faced by farmers in maize production.
Other recommendations made by the researchers included a call on the government to maintain a buy-back policy and the provision of extensive field management training for extension, seed company and staff of other agencies engaged in maize promotion.
The researchers also called for investment in production and promotion of labour saving tools and continued investment in post-harvest research-for-development to improve market.
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