The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has released more than 50 climate-smart sorghum varieties aimed at strengthening food security and protecting Nigerian farmers against the effects of climate change.
The Director of IAR, Professor Ado Adamu Yusuf, disclosed this during a Farmers’ Field Day organised by the Institute at its research farm in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The Director, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Research, Professor Lucius Joseph Bamaiyi,said the field day was organised to provide an opportunity for farmers and other stakeholders to assess the improved sorghum varieties and make informed choices.
He explained that the exercise would enable participants to observe the performance of the varieties, make recommendations and identify those best suited to their farming needs.
“The purpose of this field day is to interact with farmers, take them around the research farm and allow them to assess the improved sorghum varieties we have developed. They will make their observations, recommendations and select the varieties they prefer, including explaining their reasons.
“After collecting the information, we will analyse the feedback and use the data generated to guide our decisions,” he said.
In her remarks, the representative of the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Mrs Romoke Akande, said farmers’ field days and participatory assessments were important requirements in the process of approving and releasing improved seed varieties in Nigeria.
She commended IAR for adhering to the established standards and procedures, noting that all its released sorghum varieties had been commercialised.
Akande urged other agricultural research institutes to maintain the standards stipulated by the National Agricultural Seeds Council to ensure that farmers have access to quality improved seeds.
She said this would contribute to the Federal Government’s food security policy while improving farmers’ productivity and economic wellbeing.
Also speaking, the lead scientist of the sorghum Seed System project, Dr Muhammad Ahmad Yahaya, said the initiative was started in partnership with International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) designed to strengthen access to quality seeds of improved sorghum varieties production in fragile and conflict-affected communities.
According to him, the project focuses on developing early-maturing and climate-tolerant crop varieties that can perform under different environmental and security conditions.
He explained that the sorghum varieties were developed in different plant heights, including short, medium and tall varieties, with the short and medium types particularly suitable for areas facing security challenges.
“This is the first time IAR is bringing together scientists, farmers, processors, aggregators, seed companies and other stakeholders to our research field for this kind of participatory assessment.
“The essence of participatory varietal selection is to showcase the improved seeds, obtain feedback from farmers and understand the varieties they prefer, as well as the improvements they would like to see.
“Today, we showcased at least eight improved sorghum varieties, including SAMSORG 52, SAMSORG 53, SAMSORG 54, SAMSORG 17, SAMSORG 45, SAMSORG 47, SAMSORG 48 and SAMSORG 51SW11,” he stated.
One of the participating farmers, Alhaji Muktar Salisu, popularly known as Sarkin Bumu, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the improved sorghum varieties, particularly their early maturity.
He said the varieties could mature in less than four months, a development he described as a significant improvement compared with traditional sorghum varieties, which farmers previously cultivated throughout much of the rainy season.
“I am highly excited about what I witnessed today. This sorghum matures in less than four months, unlike what we used to experience with the traditional varieties.
“We appreciate IAR for its efforts in supporting farmers with these improved seeds. I call on farmers to embrace climate-smart agriculture and adopt the improved seeds introduced by the Institute,” he added.
Another farmer, Uwale Balarabe, from Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State, said he had been engaged in farming for over 15 years but had never come across such improved sorghum varieties.
He expressed happiness at participating in the important gathering, describing the newly introduced varieties as impressive and promising.
He particularly commended the short-statured variety, saying it could be useful in areas affected by insecurity, where farmers face difficulties accessing their farmlands.
“I am really happy to be part of this important gathering. I have been farming for over 15 years, but I have never come across such varieties. The variety that particularly attracted my attention is the short-statured one, which I believe could be cultivated in locations affected by insecurity. I commend IAR for this wonderful innovation and hope such initiatives will continue,” he said.
