The National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) at Kuru, near Jos, has developed a new variety of potato to tackle outbreak of blight. Dr Khaya Shuaibu, a researcher in the institute, stated that the initiative was supported by Global Biotechnology Potato Partnership (GBPP), under its ”Feed the Future Global Biotech Potato Project Nigeria.” According to him, the new variety is blight resistant and will encourage more investments in potato value chain.
Shuaibu added that the move would also boost production and enable farmers’ access to better yield and income. He further stated that the field day was aimed at sensitising farmers, extension workers and researchers on the need to embrace the new initiative: “This event is to create avenue for farmers, agricultural extension workers and researchers to share knowledge and experiences on the interventions being demonstrated."
"It is also intended to showcase our research findings on the new variety. NRCRI is collaborating with national and international partners to develop this, and the choice of Plateau for this trial is because the state produces 90 per cent of the potatoes in Nigeria.”
Source: nannews.ng