The National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) and Global Crop Diversity Trust have advised farmers to adopt resilient crops to tackle climate change and ensure food security.

The Director NACGRAB, Dr Sunday Aladele, said this on the sidelines of the Technical Working Group’s meeting on users’ engagement on Friday in Kano.

Mr Aladele said that the project’s target was to address climate change, and advised Nigerian farmers to adopt the centre’s climate resilient seeds under the `Crop for Resilience’ project.

He said that the project, supported by the Global Crop Diversity Trust, intended to mitigate effects of climate change in Nigeria.

Mr Aladele noted that the essence of the meeting was to relate with the Technical Working Group to know their roles in the user engagement project.

According to him, the Technical Working Group and NACGRAB will continue to support and guide the farmers on selecting the right variety for cultivation.

He said that the Germ plasm Users Group (GUG) for sorghum and cowpea and other crops with relevance to climate change would guide farmers in selecting the right variety for cultivation.

He further advised the farmers to multiply the seeds in large numbers and share with others.

Also, the Crop trust consultant, Dr Fred Rattunde, stressed the importance of crop conservation, saying that it will enable researchers to access the different indigenous crop samples in the gene-bank for breeding, particularly in view of climate change.

He said that it would also assist to increase agricultural productivity and guarantee food security in the country.

Mr Rattunde described the project as courageous and pioneering, calling for synergy and strong linkage between farmers and the centre.

Similarly, the Country Representative of ICRISAT Nigeria, Angarawai Ignatius, urged the farmers to change their traditional mindset by adopting NACGRAB climate resilient seeds under crop for resilience project.

He also said that the project, supported by Crop Trust, aimed at mitigating effects of climate change in Nigeria.

Members of the Technical Working Group who spoke at the meeting urged NACGRAB to continue to support and guide the farmers on selecting the right seeds variety for cultivation.

(NAN)