Ibadan, Nigeria
September 13, 2011

Nigeria aims to raise maize production to 20 million tons per annum up from the current 8 millions tons in the next few years.

The move is part of efforts to enhance food security, create jobs, and more importantly, cushion the oil-rich nation from the effects of rising food prices.

Dr. Akin Adesina, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the new efforts would transform maize industry and make farming more profitable.

Maize is consumed by millions of Nigerians, and its productivity has been stymied by low adoption of improved seeds, poor seed quality, little or no use of fertilizers, low investment in research funding, and poor extension services. In the 1980s, Nigeria experienced a silent Maize Revolution in the savannah but the transformation was not sustained.

“We have begun a journey of transformation—a journey to re-engineer Nigerian agriculture for high impact and success,” Adesina said during a meeting with a team of maize experts in Abuja.

Increasing maize production will ensure food security, and generate income and jobs.
Adesina called on experts to translate research and innovations into impacts on farmers' fields, adding that “we must do this at a scale that can reduce hunger and poverty.”

According to him, government has resolved to “rebuild the broken walls of Nigeria's agriculture.

“Our resolve is clear: Grow Nigerian Agriculture." he added.

The maize team, on Sunday, submitted a blueprint on how to achieve the new targets.
Dr. Sam Ajala, IITA Maize Breeder, said the focus on maize was a step in the right direction.
“If you look at maize, it has the highest return on investment compared with other crops. So if we are able to get it right in maize it will be great,” he said on Tuesday.

Researchers aim to leverage on earlier successes recorded under the Doubling Maize Project that proved that maize yield could be doubled on farmers’ fields.

The new move will also benefit from the plethora of innovations that are still in international and national research centers waiting to be adopted by farmers.

For instance, high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties that are adaptable to Nigeria’s various agroecological zones, and drought- and Striga-resistant varieties that could address on-farm stresses, would be deployed to farmers.

Also early, intermediate, and late-maturing varieties with yields up to thrice as much as traditional varieties will help farmers tackle the negative effects of climate change.

“We are optimistic that if given the necessary support we will achieve the 20 million tons,” Ajala said.

Website: http://www.iita.org

Published: September 13, 2011