House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to allocate funding towards innovations in plant breeding, aiming to accelerate the creation of crop varieties that are disease-resistant, drought-tolerant, and rich in nutrition.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu emphasized this during the inaugural conference of the Nigerian Plant Breeders Association (NPBA) held in Abuja.
Kalu stressed that supporting such innovations would fund plant breeders to develop crop varieties capable of addressing the challenges posed by a changing climate.
He emphasized the key role of biotechnology in agriculture, particularly in unlocking the potential of plant breeding.
Highlighting the global population’s steady increase, Kalu emphasized the growing need for crop varieties that can withstand climate change while yielding higher quantities of food with enhanced nutritional content.
Speaking earlier, Prof. Chiedozie Egesi, the President of NPBA and Executive Director of the National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI) in Umudike, noted that the association’s integration of agricultural biotechnology has accelerated the development of crop varieties that are more resilient to both biological and environmental stresses.
Egesi further stated that these advancements have translated into increased agricultural productivity and improved food security.
