Kaduna — In its efforts of boosting agricultural advancement and food production in the country, the Ahmadu Bello University's (ABU) Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria, has released three new maize varieties capable of fully maturing within 70-120 days with a yield potential of 6.9 tonnes per hectare, even as the vice chancellor calls for availability of fertiliser for Nigerian famers.

Unveiling the new seeds christened SAMMAZ 15, 16, and IAR-07-1050 in Zaria, its Director, Professor Balarabe Tanimu, said the three new seeds are resistance to striga and tolerance to streak virus and suitable for cultivation in the Nigerian savannas.

Another new variety of cowpea called SAMPEA 10 was also released by IAR, with full maturity within 60 - 70 days. The new cowpea is also resistance to striga and alectra prone areas. Its yield potential is 2.5 tonnes per hectare and can be grown in savanna ecological zones of Nigeria, said the Director.

During the 2009 IAR cropping scheme meeting of the school, which had in attendance the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Dr. Sayyadi Ruma, and the university's Vice chancellor, Professor Shehu Usman Abdullahi, both commended the Agricultural Mechanisation Unit of the institute which has fabricated what it called the corn stalk crusher, a machine that reduces the size and soften the stalk of sorghum such that it is readily consumed and digested by livestock.

He added that the crusher which is already in use in Sudan and other places is best for livestock famers of small and large ruminants.