Professor Muhammad Lawal Attanda, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), has said that through innovative research methodologies, the research institute aims to develop additional novel okra cultivars that not only meet market-driven demands, but also ensure sustainability in agricultural practices.
He said this at the sidelines of the International Conferences on Global Okra Round Table 11 and 5F Farming Conference-Breeding for Resilience, hosted by NIHORT in conjunction with Foundation for Advanced Training in Plant Breeding (ATPBR), in Ibadan.
He said that he is delighted that NIHORT is hosting the GORT II conference, and that the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Institute intends to boost the production of okro in the country.
As a result of this, the Federal Government has entered into a partnership with an Indian-based not-for-profit organisation, the Foundation for Advanced Training in Plant Breeding (ATPBR).
He said NIHORT in its efforts had released okra varieties such as NHOKRA1 which is high yielding, early maturing with potential yield of 23.96t/ha and developed others such as LD 88 and NH47-4.
“Through innovative research methodologies, NIHORT aims to develop additional novel okra cultivars that not only meet market-driven demands, but also ensure sustainability in agricultural practices.”
Professor Garba Sharubutu, Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), while speaking on the partnership the Federal Government entered into with an Indian-based not-for-profit organisation, the Foundation for Advanced Training in Plant Breeding (ATPBR), noted that okro is one of Nigeria’s favourite delicacy.
He said that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu placed more emphasis on the diversification of the economy hence the focus on extending attention from production of cash crops to food crops such as okro.
He said that by concentrating on production of food crops, farmers in the country stand to gain from the various policies, put in place by the Federal Government, stating that apart from helping towards the diversification of the economy, it would help in achieving food sufficiency in the country.
“Mr. President is more than interested in the diversification of the economy. We cannot just concentrate on production of cash crops alone. We need to also support and look at other staple food items, and most importantly, Okro. It can grow anywhere and any season.
“What we are doing is to promote theproduction of Okro because it is our delicacy and having taken into consideration, the promotion of agricultural productivity and especially the declaration of emergency on food security by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
I think it is something we have come to celebrate especially that we are making good as a research institute the intention of Mr President by inviting foreign partners to come and collaborate with us for the development of agricultural productivity.”
“Nigeria is the second largest in terms of okro production but we are not yet there. We are not yet there because there are a lot of potentials we have to undergo. Like we said, Mr. President has insisted that no Nigerian must go to bed on an empty stomach.
“It is not about you getting the quantity of food, it is about you getting the quality of food. You cannot eat amala, eba and pounded yam without having a lubricant that will lubricate any of these foods to go smoothly and okro is the in-thing.
“Okro is most acceptable in most parts of this country. All the geo-political zones consume okro and it is such a food that you can actually develop into all forms of food. Moreso, Mr. President is also interested in the diversification of the economy.
“We cannot just concentrate on cash crops;we are also supposed to look at other staple crops. Most importantly, okro can grow three to five times in a year; it can grow in the desert and anywhere. So, what we are doing is to promote okro in such a way that you have two or three cycles.
“These two or three cycles will make agriculture more sustainable, in the sense that in between the cultivation of yam, you will have okro maybe once or twice. So, the sustainability of our own citizens is key and this is what this government is trying to promote.”
Dr. Surinder Tikoo, Conference Chairman and Director, Advanced Training in Plant Breeding (ATPBR), India while speaking on the partnership between its organisation and the Nigerian government, said that the partnership is about making okro a global crop.
“With the help of NIHORT we are working together on the latest research on okro and resilience breeding.
“In the last 10 years, okro has become a global crop because of the fact that it can grow in various climatic conditions and it is resistant to viruses. Okro leaves are used for vegetables, there are numerous importance of okro and that is why we are advocating its massive production,” he said.
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