The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos State Chapter, has lauded the Federal Government’s approval of 57 crop varieties to strengthen agricultural productivity in the country.

The Lagos State AFAN Chairman, Sakin Agbayewa, stated this during an interview on Wednesday in Lagos.

In March 2026, the Federal Government approved 57 newly improved crop varieties to boost food security, improve nutrition, and strengthen agricultural productivity.

The crops, selected for early maturity, higher yields, and resistance to pests and diseases, include 14 different types of staples, with notable advancements in rice, maize, yam, soybean, and plantain.

Mr Agbayewa noted that the approval of the crop varieties would help improve the yields of farmers in the state.

“We are excited to hear about the 57 new varieties of crops recently approved. What we desire currently in crop farming is not just about planting, it is about increased yield.

“A farmer can have a plot of land and have a high yield and another can have big plots of land and have a low yield. So, when we talk about food security, it starts from the varieties you are planting and it starts from the seedlings.

“Improved seed varieties as well as improved seedlings will always give you higher yield on minimal land. You can barely imagine the higher yield farmers with larger land size will get with an improved seedling varieties,” Mr Agbayewa said.

He described the introduction of the crops as a new development for crop cultivation.

“So, for us as an association, the introduction of the 57 crop is a good development for crop cultivation. It will help to curb the food insecurity we are talking about and shortage of food in the near future. It is a good one.

“This newly approved 57 crop varieties should however be popularised among local farmers because not everyone is aware of this latest development. There are a lot of issues currently affecting the cultivation of crops and the development of improved crop varieties will help the farmer’s productivity.

“Issues such as climate change effects, inconsistent rainfall patterns and weather clash among others are affecting farmers’ yield. So, what we want now is to have improved crop varieties that will give us higher yield,” he said.

Mr Agbayewa said there should be massive advocacy of the approved crop varieties across the board for farmers.

“There should be a massive advocacy of the approved crop varieties across the board so that our farmers will be able to eat from their sweat and at the same time save the nation. We are excited that this new crop varieties was done in Nigeria and not by foreigners. It shows that our researchers are now waking up.

“The government is now waking up to their responsibility. We are now growing our own and eating our own varieties, which is good. And we call for more research like this to be done. With more researches done, we will no longer be scared of genetically modified crops that will affect our people,” he said.

(NAN)