Nigeria has officially commenced the sale of four genetically modified (GM) Tela Maize varieties, marking a significant advancement in the nation’s agricultural sector.
The commercial release of SAMMAZ 72T, SAMMAZ 73T, SAMMAZ 74T, and SAMMAZ 75T was announced during a ceremony in Abuja, with expectations that Ethiopia and Mozambique will follow suit shortly.
The National Varieties Release Committee (NVRC) approved the maize varieties in January 2024.
The GM maize types are engineered to resist drought, stem borers, and fall armyworms, thus enhancing yield potential and potentially doubling Nigeria’s maize production.
During the launch event, Professor Ado Adamu Yusuf, Executive Director of the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, emphasized the economic and food security benefits.
“We are not only introducing maize varieties that will save Nigerian farmers the cost of production by reducing chemical insecticide sprays by up to 2 billion Naira annually but also ensuring sustainable food security in the country and across the West African sub-region,” Yusuf stated.
The initiative, which began over five years ago, saw Nigeria joining the TELA Maize Project Public-Private Partnership in 2019.
This project aims to tackle major agricultural challenges such as drought and insect pests that plague African farmers.
The new maize varieties, presented by Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security Sabi Abdullahi, are expected to significantly mitigate production losses and improve crop resilience.
”Tela Maize’s high yield potential, with proper agronomic practices, can reach up to 10 tonnes per hectare, a substantial increase from the current average of three tonnes.
”Supported by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the development demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to providing farmers with advanced, resilient crop varieties,” Abdullahi stated.
The new Tela maize varieties, suitable for Guinea, the Sudanese savannas, and rainforests, are a critical intervention supported by AATF in several sub-Saharan countries, including Ethiopia.
The environmental release approval granted by the National Biosafety Management Agency in October 2021 paved the way for the registration and release of these varieties.
”The TELA Maize Project, implemented in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and South Africa, aims to deliver improved maize technology to farmers,” AATF Executive Director Dr. Canisius Kanangire said.
“Effective regulatory oversight and sustained political goodwill are critical to promoting innovation for development. This is what has ensured timely delivery of the TELA Maize technology to an eager farming community in Nigeria,” Kanangire added.
The Tela Maize, named after the Latin word ‘tutela’ meaning ‘protection,’ incorporates Bacillus thuringiensis (BT), a bacterium that offers insect protection.
The hybrid maize, to be multiplied and supplied by eight Nigerian seed firms, has a history of safe cultivation and consumption globally.
Aggrey Ambali, Chairperson of the AATF Board of Trustees, encouraged other African nations to adopt biotechnology for agricultural advancement.
“By embracing innovative technologies, we can collectively work towards a food-secure Africa, where our farmers are empowered, our economies are strengthened, and our people are well-nourished,” Ambali stated.
