Nigerian Farmers receive 5 new Cassava Varieties in 18 months

The Project Manager of NextGen Cassava, Professor Egesi Chiedozie, says five new cassava varieties have been released to farmers across Nigeria in the last 18 months.

NextGen Cassava brings together breeders, data scientists, and gender specialists
to deliver improved cassava varieties to the people who need them most.

With the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office, NextGen Cassava’s international team works with institutional partners across eight countries on four continents.

Speaking on NextGen Cassava at its Annual meeting in Abuja, Prof. Chiedozie explained that the project was all about improving cassava varieties to enhance food security, while increasing income for farmers in Nigeria.

At the #ongoing @NextGenCassava 2022 annual meeting, @cegesi reveals that #cassava offers a path for Africa to become less reliant on imports of wheat and flour substitution in the food system.
.#zerohunger #Africa #foodsystems pic.twitter.com/YWMjyb5b5V

— IITA (@IITA_CGIAR) September 13, 2022

“NextGen is the largest cassava breeding network located in four continents, and currently working with 20 partner organizations across the world.

“NextGen accommodates gender responsive breeding to ensure that the voices of women are heard.

“So, we do not just go to scientists to give us new breed varieties, but to the village woman who plants cassava and prepares garri or fufu from it,” he said.

Also, the Director-General, National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), Dr. Phillips Ojo, said the distinct role of NextGen in the development of breeding capacities in cassava had changed the face of the commodity seed system in Nigeria.

Represented by the Director, Seed Coordination and Management Services, Zidafamor Jimmy, the Director-General noted that the project was building and transforming practices of stakeholders in the cassava value chain, and enhancing the farm-level productivity of smallholder farmers.

According to him, the new improved cassava varieties released in the country were expected to have significant impact on food security, enhance farmer income, improve agro-industrialization and create jobs.

NextGen, IITA, others launch new improved cassava varieties https://t.co/LTmA6KXNny

— NextGen Cassava (@NextGenCassava) September 14, 2022

Ojo recalled that over the last four decades, researchers have released 54 improved varieties of cassava in Nigeria.

“This is a significant feat as we now have varieties that are fit for purpose and economically viable to encourage large scale participation,” the Director-General added.

On his part, the acting Executive Director, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Dr. Godwin Asumugha, said the NextGen meeting would strengthen commitments to deploy technology, innovative and global best practices to improve cassava for economic diversification.

Source: Agro Nigeria