National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) and Crop Trust have advised Nigerian farmers to adjust to the use of climate change resilient crops.
The Centre’s Director, Chief Executive Officer NACGRAB, Dr Sunday Aladele, gave the advice on Friday during a field day meeting with Technical Working Group on Germplasm Users Group , at Wasai, Minjibir local government area of Kano.
He said that the center was running farmer management nurseries in project States such as Oyo, Niger and Kano States, specifically on cowpea and sorghum in different locations among the clusters that were established in order to promote the Seeds for Resilience project.
Represented by Dr Abisoye Ojo, the director said that the Technical Working Group and NACGRAB would continue to support and guide the farmers on selecting the right variety for cultivation.
Aladele enjoined the farmers to adopt the centre’s climate resilient seeds under the “Crop for Resilience” project.
He said that the project, which was being supported by the Global Crop Diversity Trust, was aimed at mitigating effects of climate change in the country.
Earlier, The centre’s Chief Scientific Officer , Mr Mayowa Olubiyi, said that farmers have started to improve the use and management of germplasm collections through multi-stakeholder processes.
He said that the farmers had already been formed into Germplasm User Groups.
Olubiyi said that during the farmers participatory variety selection in Kano State, 300 samples of cowpea and sorghum planted by the project were evaluated and found to be good.
He then called for synergy and strong linkage between farmers and the centre.
Malam Gambo Isa, a member of Technical Working Group and representative of Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, commended NACGRAB and Crop Trust for their concern and efforts in promoting Seeds for Resilience project.
He also appealed to NACGRAB to provide more seeds for multiplication to the farmers.
Isa explained that the meeting would aveil the farmers on how to boost ,use and management of germ plasm collections for crops production.
He then restate the commitment of his state government in supporting the farmers in the area.
Some of the farmers who spoke at the meeting commended the center for the gesture.
The farmers also revealed that the multiplication of cowpea and sorghum in their various areas was successful.
The also appealed for the inclusion millet in the Germplasm.
Our correspondent reports that NACGRAB team also visited Bagauda in Bebeji local government area where they met and discussed management of germplasm collections through multi-stakeholder processes with the farmers
