The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, in Nigeria has released TELA, maize variety that would save the country N268 million in foreign exchange spent annually in the importation of chemical insecticides used to spray maize.
Executive Director of IAR, Prof. Mohammed Ishyaku explained that the TELA maize variety is genetically modified to tolerate mild drought and to self-protect against certain insect pests especially stem borer and fall armyworm (FAW).
The solution will expand farmers’ options to either grow the genetically modified variety or conventional drought TEGO varieties or their local open-pollinated varieties just like farmers in other parts of the world.
TELA technology
He commended the federal government for approving the commercial release of the variety to farmers, adding that the TELA BT maize had been under cultivation in South Africa by smallholder farmers since 2016.
“Farmers are already benefiting from the varieties in protecting against the target pests, especially FAW. It is safe and hence Nigerian farmers should also benefit. With the recent approval given by the National Biosafety Management Agency, TELA maize varieties will be evaluated by farmers across the maize growing regions in the country for them to select varieties that they prefer for cultivation,” he said.
Farmers in the country who spend up to N50,000 or more per acre to buy chemicals and spray against these target pests will get some relief and appreciate the TELA technology more in terms of higher yield and the savings from the purchase of chemicals for spraying their crop.
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