October 5, 2022
Dr. Aliyu Umar, the Executive Director of the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, on Wednesday disclosed that the institute has developed two high yielding varieties of rice.
Umar made the disclosure at Bacita, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara, during the 2022 Annual Farmers Field Day, organised by the Bacita Outstation of the institute.
According to him, these are part of the contributions of the institute to food production in Nigeria and fighting the consequence of climate change ravaging the world.
He explained that the high yielding rice had the capacity to mature early and yield up to 10 metric tons of rice per hectare.
“As impactful as the research innovation would be, the only thing that can ensure it helps the nation sustain its growing rice production is for farmers and extension agents to cooperate effectively on its adoption and utilisation,” he said.
He also charged scientists and policy makers to simplify approach in disseminating scientific innovations.
“So, adoption of technologies and strategies meant to fight climate change will not look difficult for farmers to understand and eventually adopt,” he said.
The executive director noted that the Federal Government was doing a lot to ensure the increasing agricultural productivity of the country was not reversed by extreme weather events.
This, he said, included unusual flooding and drought, currently witnessed in various parts of the country.
He, therefore, reiterated the resolve of the institute in helping the country to achieve sufficiency in the production of food and agro-based materials.
He explained further that access to such privileges was one of the essences of having a developmental institute’s outstation located in a state.
The NCRI was renowned for the development of Rice, Sugarcane, Soybean and beniseed, among others in the Middle belt Zone of Nigeria. (NAN)
