We'll Grow Maize Without Water - IITA

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has embarked on
some researches to produce drought-tolerant maize to boost agriculture in
the country.
Dr Sylvestro Meseka, a maize breeder at the institute, made this known on
Thursday when he addressed a group of scientists who visited the
institute's research farm in Ikenne,
Ogun State.

Reports shows that the scientists are Fellows of Bio-sciences for Farming
in Africa (B4FA).

Meseka said that the development of the variety was imperative because of
the effects of climate change.

He said that the new maize seeds had the capacity to resist and withstand
any form of drought that could plague the country.

``We are developing a maize variety that would be good for farmers in the
marginal rain areas, particularly in the northern parts of Nigeria where
the rain pattern is too short. So, you need to have some of these varieties
there.

``We should not forget the fact that due to climate change, the rainfall
pattern has changed; we are looking for more varieties that are not only
drought-tolerant but also tolerant to heat stress,'' he said.

Meseka said that the experiment was being conducted; using the irrigation
system of farming, adding that the seeds would only be watered for 28 days
and left to germinate.

He stressed that apart from its resistance to drought, the new maize
variety was also resistant to diseases such as stem borer disease.

He said that crops that were able to survive and produce significant yield
would be selected and multiplied for further distribution to seed companies.

Besides, Meseka said the institute would develop flood-resistant crops that
could withstand flood, since floods had now become incessant because of
climate change and rainfall patterns.

On the various varieties of seeds developed and released so far, the
breeder said that 370 varieties had been released this year, in
collaboration with the institute's international and local partners.

De Edge Farms