₦airaland Forum

The National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, has received approval to release four new crop varieties (two rice and two castor) at the 34th National Committee on Naming, Registration & Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds/Fisheries meeting held on Thursday, 31st October 2024 at NACGRAB Conference Hall, Moor Plantation, Ibadan.

This advancement demonstrates the institute's commitment to enhancing food security, supporting Nigerian farmers, and pioneering agricultural innovations.

**Newly Released Rice Varieties: Faro69 and Faro70**

The rice varieties, Faro69 and Faro70, were developed in collaboration with the Institute of Crop Sciences (ICS) at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in China. Designed to thrive in lowland environments, these varieties respond to key challenges in rice farming with traits that promote resilience, high yield, and quality.

- **Faro69** features a semidwarf plant structure, purple lemma apex, and high drought tolerance. It matures within 115–120 days and offers a high potential yield of 13.8 tons per hectare. Notable for its strong resistance to pests such as gall midge and stem borer, and diseases including leaf blast and sheath rot, Faro69 stands out as a high-yield, nutrient-rich variety that contains 12.26% crude protein and 4.85% crude fat.

- **Faro70** is an early maturing (89–95 days), drought-tolerant rice variety with green stem and leaf sheath colors. It boasts a potential yield of 11.8 tons per hectare and is also moderately resistant to common rice pests and diseases. With outstanding ratoon potential and high crop yield, Faro70 is nutrient-dense, containing 9.54% protein and 4.81% fat.

The development of these rice varieties was made possible through the expertise and dedication of NCRI's rice breeders B. Z. Salihu, A. A. Ajadi, B. O. Ehirim, A. Isong, F. Umar, and O. F. Ajaye, along with collaborating scientists S. O. Bakare, M. I. Gaba, S. T. Gbadeyan, J. N. Eze, A. M. Shema, O. B. Olaniyan, S. O. Adigbo, O. T. Adeniji, and A. J. Ibrahim. NCRI and ICS have also extended training to Nigerian rice farmers on improved agronomic practices and community seed systems, ensuring that the farmers are equipped to maximize the productivity of these new varieties.

**Newly Released Castor Varieties: NCRICAS3 and NCRICAS4**

The newly released castor varieties, NCRICAS3 and NCRICAS4, are products of NCRI’s independent research efforts, developed to address the demands of Nigeria’s castor farming sector, particularly in the Derived and Guinea Savanna regions.

- **NCRICAS3** has large, white, elongated seeds and mahogany-colored stems and matures within 115–121 days. This variety is recognized for its high yield potential of 2.1 tons per hectare, tolerance to pests and diseases, and high seed protein (28.59%) and fat content (37.41%), making it a valuable addition to Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.

- **NCRICAS4** is a high-yield castor variety with large, white square seeds and green stems. Maturing in 118–120 days, NCRICAS4 offers a potential yield of 1.8 tons per hectare and shows resilience against common castor pests and diseases. It has a notably high fat content of 46.33% and 21.42% protein, making it an excellent choice for oil production and other industrial uses.

The success of these castor varieties is a result of the dedication of NCRI’s castor breeders B. Z. Salihu, M. N. Ishaq, A. Isong, F. Umar, A. A. Ajadi, and O. F. Ajaye, with collaborative support from scientists V. I. O. Olowe, A. Z. Saleh, B. O. Apuyor, M. A. Kabaraini, M. S. Salahu, M. I. Gaba, T. Gadeyan, and A. Y. Mumeen.

The release of these varieties signifies a major leap for NCRI in driving agricultural advancements, and we are confident that these new high-performing rice and castor varieties will empower Nigerian farmers, contribute to national food security, and support Nigeria’s economic growth through agriculture.

Mohammed Tukur Mohammed
Public Relations Officer
National Cereals Research Institute Badeggi, Niger state.