Africa Gets New Corn Varieties

Matt Hopkins Posted by Matt Hopkins|16 February 2010

IBADAN, Nigeria — The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), partnered with the Institute for Agricultural Research of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, has developed and released several new corn varieties. The improved varieties — bred to resist drought, low soil fertility, pests, diseases and weeds — were released on Feb.12 by the Nigerian National Variety Release Committee. In a statement Feb.15, IITA said the varieties were developed through conventional plant breeding.

The newly-released corn includes 13 varieties resistant to fungi and stem borers, drought-tolerance and good adaptation to sub-optimal soil nitrogen. Another four hybrids are drought- tolerant. More varieties released by the committee were two Striga-resistant, two white and two yellow hybrids. These six varieties were developed at IITA in partnership with Premier Seeds Nigeria Limited for production and marketing by the company.

According to IITA corn breeder Abebe Menkir in the statement, the stress-tolerant varieties and hybrids will improve adoption rates and corn production by Nigerian farmers, contributing to productivity increases and improved food security in West and Central Africa.

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