IITA NEW RELEASED DROUGHT TOLERANT MAIZE VARIETY (DT Maize) & PROVITAMIN A MAIZE VARIETY (PVA maize).
Drought is a major abiotic stress limiting maize production and productivity in sub-Saharan Africa.
Today, many places in the guinea savannas that are arguably the current maize belt of Nigeria now experience yearly drought that often coincides with flowering period of maize crops and consequently leads to poor grain yields or total crop failure.
It is being speculated that the frequency and intensity of drought would intensify in the years ahead in response to climate change.
DT maize is hybrids with combined resistance/tolerance to Striga, drought, and low soil-nitrogen.
The drought-tolerant maize (DT maize) varieties have mitigated the effects of drought on maize production and farmers are having better returns on investment.
Drought Tolerant maize (DT maize) can withstands any dry climate or climate changes that might occur. With drought tolerant variety every farmers should be rest assured of a good harvest despite any climate challenges.
Colour: White and Yellow
Provitamin A maize (PVA) :
Vitamine A deficiency is considered a major public health problem in Nigeria affecting over 30 percent of the population, mostly children in preschool, women of reproductive age and Adults. It can result in morbidity, loss of vision or blindness and even death.
Provitamin A maize (PVA ) this is a new variety release by IITA to balance the nutritional deficiency in children, pregnant women, nursing mother and adults.
Provitamin A maize (PVA) is a special type of biofortified maize that contains high levels of beta-carotene.
Beta-Carotene is an organic, red-orange pigment abundant in plants and fruits and gives PVA maize an orange color. It is converted to vitamin A in the body after consumption to provide additional nutritional benefits to human body.
Colour: Yellow
SEED RATE & PLANT POPULATION
1) 20kg/ha is required to be planted.
2) 75cm x 50cm, 2 plants /stand to give 55, 555 plants/ha of plant population on an hectare. While one plant stand will give 53,555 plants population.
EXPECTED YIELD: 5 tonnes.
Note: if Good Agronomy Practices (GAP) is follow to the later.
COST OF SEED PER HECTARE (Drought tolerant variety)
#700/kg x 20 = #14,000 per hectare.
And PVA MAIZE IS - #700/kg x 20 = #14,000 for Provitamin A maize per hectare.