Cereal Research

Dr. Muyideen Oyekunle

INTRODUCTION 

The Programme is one of the largest research Programmes in the Institute that is responsible for development and release of cereal crop varieties of high grain yielding abilities and nutritional qualities, resistance to diseases and pests, tolerance to drought and responsiveness to good agronomic management and post-harvest technological practices. In the past the Programmes worked on crops including Sorghum, Maize, Millet, Wheat and Barley which are among the most popular and important cereals crops grown in Nigeria. The National Agricultural policy has streamlined Research focus of Agricultural Institutes. The Institutes now has only the National mandate for research in Sorghum (Sorghum bicalar (L) and Maize zea major.

The Programme research thought is in line with the National policy on food security Research Projects are design based on the major current production challenges of Sorghum and millet. The major aim of the programme is no enhance Maize and Sorghum productivity per unit area and crops utilization for food and feed.?

Objectives of the Programme

1. To develop high yielding, disease and pest resistant and drought tolerant varieties and hybrids of Sorghum and Maize crops for quality (nutritious) food and industrial uses.

2. To evolve cultural, management and protection practices for optional and dependable yields.
3. To establish environment requirements and to evolve technological practices for quality produce.
4. To establish the socio-economics and production suitable for adoption of our technologies on cereals to enhance the socio economic status of farmers.

(B)The specific objectives of the programme based on the Institutes  short and medium farm plan (2020-2025) and:

1. Development and Deployment of Technologies that will improve the productivity per unit area of Maize and Sorghum by at least 30 – 40% and increase the total productive of the Crops in Nigeria.
2. Promote the cultivation of high Maize and Sorghum varieties and hybrids by farmers through on form Demonstrations using farmer groups and adopted villagers.
3. Development and packaging of improved technologies for extra early, early, and medium measuring varieties of maize and Sorghums for different Agro-e cologies
4. Increase in the quantity and quality breeder and foundation seeds of Maize and Sorghum for uptake by seed companies and outgrows.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PROGRAMME

The Programme has achieved a lot in the areas of crop variety improvement, cultural practices and management of crop against pests and diseases for better output.

i. Crop Variety Improvement: The Programme has developed and released 49 improved Sorghum varieties designated as SAMSORG 1-49 and 57 improved Maize varieties released as SAMMAZ 1-57. Some of the good qualities of these varieties include the following:

a. High yields

b. Drought tolerance and Striga resistance for both Sorghum and Maize.

c. Excellent grain quality e.g. quality protein Maize (QPM).

c. Good Sorghum malting quality for industrial beer brewing.

c. Sorghum flour for composite bread, biscuits, cakes, etc.

c. Different maturity classes of varieties of the two crops suit to the different ecological areas of the Savanna.

ii. Cultural Practices and Management: Developed appropriate Planting dates, plant spacing (75cm x 25cm), plant population (53,000 plants/ha), fertilizer types, rates and time of application for early medium and late maturity varieties as well as herbicides and pesticides have been developed and packaged accordingly for the different types of varieties.

CHALLENGES OF THE PROGRAMME

i. Irregular sufficient funding to research

ii. Lack of modern research equipment.

ON-GOING RESEARCH PROJECTS