Ibadan
at a time tomato scarcity rages due to a disease nick-named 'Ebola', a new
disease has been uncovered in the South West geopolitical zone of the country.
This time, it is a maize disease, according to the Institute of Agricultural
Research and Training (IAR&T), Moor Plantation, Ibadan.
The IAR&T, which is the zonal
coordinating research institute in the South-West, declared in a statement
issued by its Head of Public Relations Unit, Mr. Adeniyi Amusat, that an
uncommon pest is presently ravaging maize on the field in the Southwest
agro-ecological zone of Nigeria which may likely lead to shortage of maize in
the region
The
disease according to findings has rendered many hectares of maize plantations
malnourished and in some instances stunted and yellowish without maize buds for
eventual harvest this year. And many farmers are ruing the development,
describing it “as an unprecedented phenomenon in recent years”
But
the institute, while calling on all stakeholders to aggressively address the
looming danger, maintained that if not checked there may be scarcity/shortage
of maize as experienced with tomato recently.
The
statement noted that the new discovery portends serious danger for production
and consumption of maize in the nation as it forms larger percentage of
livestock feeds formulation, especially in poultry.
It
however assured that IAR&T which is the institute saddled with maize
production mandate in the region is already setting machinery in motion to
control the menace
No comments:
Post a Comment