Through the National Varieties Release Committee (NVRC), the federal government has officially registered and released 10 high-yield crop varieties to farmers to boost food sufficiency and enhance farming activities.

NVRC chairman Soji Olufajo announced the release during the 32nd Meeting of the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crops Varieties, Livestock Breed/Fisheries.

The meeting was held at the Conference Hall of the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Moore Plantation, Ibadan.

Mr Olufajo said 12 new varieties of three crops, namely Wheat, Potato and Maize, were submitted for consideration, but 10 were recommended to the committee for registration and release.

The technical sub-committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crops Varieties had, during its 36th meeting, deliberated on the 12 varieties received. They were received from three research institutions in the country, namely Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI) Maiduguri, Borno (Wheat); National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, Abia (Potato) and Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) Ibadan (Maize).

The technical sub-committee recommended 10 of the 12 varieties, which NVRC released on Thursday.

Mr Olufajo maintained that the four wheat varieties were recommended for registration and release based on heat tolerance, high yield/high flour yield and quality.

He also said the four potatoes released were due to their resistance to late blight, high dry matter and high yield.

Mr Olufajo said the two maize varieties released were because of their Fall armyworm tolerance and high yield.

(NAN)