Nigeria: Why we need speed breeding technology on wheat

Published 2024년 10월 17일

Tridge summary

The Lake Chad Research Institute, led by Professor Baba Gana Jugudum Kabir, is focused on enhancing wheat production in Nigeria through genetic improvements and agronomic innovations. Despite releasing 17 wheat varieties since its establishment in 1975, local production still falls short, meeting less than 5% of demand. The institute is prioritizing the development of high-yielding, heat-tolerant varieties and improving agronomic practices, including irrigation and mechanization. Embracing biotechnology and speed breeding, they aim to reduce the time for new variety releases. Efforts also include expanding seed multiplication and using e-extension methods to better disseminate research findings to farmers, with a call for government support to bridge the yield gap.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Professor Baba Gana Jugudum Kabir is the Executive Director of the Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, Borno State, charged with the mandate for genetic improvement of wheat. In this interview, he explains some of the major issues affecting wheat production in Nigeria: Let’s start with some background information about the work that your research institute is doing. What is your assessment of the journey so far? The institute was established almost 50 years ago. That was in 1975. We are expecting to celebrate our golden jubilee next year. The institute has a national mandate for genetic improvement of wheat, millet and barley. And, in delivering this mandate, the institute has so far registered and released 17 wheat varieties. Out of these, 13 are bread wheat, and of the 13, two are rain-fed varieties, which are adapted for cultivation in Jos Plateau, Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State, and the Obudu Plateau in Cross River State. The four remaining varieties are durum wheat. ...

Source: Daily Trust (ng)