IAR&T RELEASES NEW CHICKEN BREED, POPCORN MAIZE

The Federal Government (FG) has introduced a newly developed chicken breed and 57 crop varieties to boost meat availability, enhance food security and improve Nigerians’ nutritional well-being.

This was announced in Ibadan on Thursday at the 36th meeting of the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds/Fisheries.

The meeting, organised by the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), was presided over by the Chairman of the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC), Soji Olufajo.

The new chicken breed, ‘Moorbeta’, was a locally developed meat-type chicken. It was released and registered based on its unique characteristic of high body weight at 10 weeks, good carcass characteristics and tolerance to heat stress.

The technical sub-committee on naming, registration and release of livestock breeds/fisheries, on Wednesday, deliberated and noted that the Moorbeta, which was bred by the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, was the only new chicken breed received.

Furthermore, NVRC, during Thursday’s meeting, approved the release and registration of the IAR&T Popcorn Maize varieties, tagged ‘ARTPOP 001 & ARTPOP 002’, also developed by the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moore plantation, Ibadan.

The new chicken breed and crop varieties will have a great impact on food production in the country

This laudable development and achievement is a testament to the Institute’s commitment to agricultural research and service delivery geared towards improved farmers’ productivity and livelihood in the South West and across the Country.

In addition to the presence of the Director, Prof. G. A. Oluwatosin and Deputy Director, Prof. J. A. Adetumbi, the Institute Crop team was led by the Breeder, Prof. D. J. Ogunniyan, and accompanied by the Head, Maize Improvement Programme, Prof. J. O. Olasoji and Head, Grain Legumes Improvement Programme, Prof. O. F. Owolade.