Nigeria’s seed council introduces disease resistant maize to Akwa Ibom farmers

Onome Amuge

The National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) under the aegis of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has introduced a disease resistance maize variety known as Oba Super 13 to farmers in Akwa Ibom State.

Mmoeyak Usua, regional director of the council, South-South zone, disclosed this during the 2020 Farmers’ Field Day organised by NASC in collaboration with Premier Seeds Nigeria Limited, Du Pont, an American leading chemical company and Bayer Seed Company in Uyo, the state capital.

Usua said the Oba Super 13 hybrid seed has the capacity to produce between 5,000 tonnes and 7,000 tonnes of maize per hectare, three seasons a year.

He explained that the high yielding seed passed through a series of international research tests and it was discovered to be disease and grass resistant as well as having superior quality over the local seeds.

“They are matured and doing well, because when we planted them; in the whole of August 2020, there was no rain but they survived. It can be planted three times a year,” he added.

He however warned local farmers in the region to buy the seed from only registered seed companies.

Glory Edet, commissioner for agriculture, Akwa Ibom State, commended the council and the seed companies over the improved seed introduced to the farmers.

Edet, who was represented by Edet Udoaka, the assistant director, agriculture directorate, appealed to the government to continuously support maize farmers to enhance food sufficiency in the country.

The Oba Super 13 maize variety renowned for its striga/drought tolerance and high yield has its origin from the International Institute for Tropical Research, Ibadan. It was initially passed down as foundation seed where it was certified and released for production in 2016.