The National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) has advised Nigerian farmers to diversify their crop varieties to mitigate the risks posed by climate change. Speaking at a Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting for the Seed for Resilience (SFR) project in Ibadan, NACGRAB Director, Anthony Okere, emphasized the dangers of mono-cropping, which can lead to total crop loss due to changing climate conditions.
The event, organized in collaboration with the Global Crop Diversity Trust (Crop Trust), stressed the importance of planting multiple crop varieties to ensure resilience and prevent complete agricultural failures. The SFR project aims to introduce and promote crop diversity among farmers as a crucial strategy against climate challenges.
Okere highlighted that NACGRAB has been training Oyo State farmers on improved cultivation methods for cowpea and sorghum over the past three years. This initiative is expected to strengthen food security in Nigeria as farmers adopt more resilient agricultural practices.
Sunday Osewa, a NACGRAB staff member, noted that the project, which began in 2021, seeks to enhance the efficiency of NACGRAB’s genebank and promote the use of conserved genetic resources among Nigerian farmers. So far, 150 farmers in Oyo State have received cowpea and sorghum seed accessions, resulting in positive yield outcomes.
Additionally, Owolade Feranmi from the Institute of Agriculture Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, advised farmers to plant different crop varieties to improve germination and minimize losses due to climate variations.
NACGRAB, established to collect and conserve genetic resources for food and agriculture, continues to play a vital role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices in Nigeria.
Credit: NAN (Tex Excluding Headline)
