IAR&T releases Fall Army Worm-tolerant maize varieties

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From left, Dr. (Mrs.) Florence Kakulu, Oyo State Director, Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development; Prof. Veronica Obatolu, Executive Director, IAR&T, Ibadan, and Dr. Johnson Adetumbi, Deputy Director, IAR&T, Ibadan.

THE Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Obafemi Awolowo University, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, has released two Fall Army Worm-tolerant maize varities for planting by farmers.

The two maize vaieties are codenamed :ARTMAZ 01 and ARTMAZ 02 respectively.

OARTMAZ 01 is a medium white Fall Army Worm-tolerant open pollinated maize variety adapted to Rainforest, Guinea Savannah and Sudan Savannah agro-ecologies. It has potential grain yield of 7.3 tonnes per hectare under best agronomic practice. It can withstand other pests and diseases, such as stem borers, maize streak virus, rust, leaf blight and curvularia leaf spot.

While ARTMAZ 02, adapted to rainforest, Guinea Savannah and Sudan Savannah agro-ecologies, is also a medium yellow version of the Fall Army Worm-tolerant open pollinated maize variety with potential grain yield of 9.0 tonnes per hectare under best agronomic practice. Equally, it can tolerate other pests and disease, such as stem borers, maize streak virus, rust, leaf blight and curvularia leaf spot that are common to Nigeria agro-environments.

Speaking during the official unveiling of the maize varieties on the institute’s premises in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Executive Director, IAR&T, Professor Veronica Obatolu, informed that at the 32nd and 36th meetings of National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds, held on the 20th and 22nd June 2023 respectively, the committee approved the official release of two newly developed Fall Army Worm-tolerant open pollinated maize varieties into the national seed system and for use by farmers in Nigeria.

According to her, the technologies are pertinent to the improvement of maize production and the attainment of food and nutritional security of Nigeria and other sub West African region.

She stated further that:”Fall Army Worm (FAW) is an evasive insect pest of crops especially maize causing massive damage to maize plants all over the world where temperature is above 8 degree Celsius. The pest has been ravaging maize fields and causing yield and economic loss estimated in billions of US Dollars globally. Many thousands of hectares of maize farms have been lost in Nigeria to Fall Army Worm since 2016.

“Several attempts have been made to prevent and/or control the pest through use of chemicals, botanicals and cultural practices without appreciable success. Host- plant resistance has been identified as the most reliable, eco-friendly and economically viable option for the African farmers.

“On this premises; two Open Pollinated Varieties (OPVS) of FAW tolerant maize developed in collaboration with International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) were evaluated, and selected for registration and release to farmers. The beneficiaries of these technologies are the seed companies; produce aggregators, processors and farmers.

“The beneficiaries of these technologies are seed companies; produce aggregators, processors and farmers. The two technologies are open pollinated varieties that will enable the farmers replant seeds from save-seed for at least another generation.”

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