The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has expressed concern over the high cost and delayed supply of TELA maize seeds to farmers.
Executive Director, IAR, Prof. Ado Yusuf, said this on Thursday in Zaria, adding that the delayed supply and the high cost of the seeds hindered many farmers from accessing the improved variety during the 2025 wet season.
The executive director made the appeal while receiving a team of Agricultural Experts from African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and TELA Nigeria.
The team was in Zaria on a field visit and evaluation of Tela maize demonstration farms in Zaria and Giwa LGAs.
Yusuf, represented by the Deputy Director of the Institute, Prof. Nafi’u Abdu, said one of the aims of developing TELA maize seed variety was to make it available and affordable to the farmers.
He called for a review of the seed pricing to make TELA maize more affordable to the farmers, saying that this would help achieve the programme’s objectives of reducing hunger and improving farmers’ income.
A kilogramme of TELA Mlmaize was sold to the farmers between N5000 to N8500 during the last wet season farming.
Yusuf, however, lamented that the delay in the supply of seeds during the 2025 planting season forced many farmers, including himself, to revert to the local varieties.
“Many people booked for the TELA seeds at the institute but were unable to get them on time.
“Even the seeds allocated to me arrived late, and I had to plant local seeds instead,” he said.
Yusuf said the adoption of the transgenic maize variety had significantly reduced the damage caused by the Fall Armyworm (FAW), a pest known to cause up to 100 per cent crop loss in some locations across Nigeria.
“As an institute, we have witnessed tremendous improvement over the years in the use of transgenic maize seeds
“The TELA Maize variety has brought notable relief to farmers by drastically reducing pest damage,” he said.
Yusuf further appealed to the TELA Nigeria team to intensify public enlightenment to dispel misinformation and propaganda being circulated against TELA maize, especially by individuals without any background in agriculture or plant breeding.
He, therefore, reaffirmed IAR’s commitment to supporting the TELA maize programme and strengthening collaboration with stakeholders to enhance food security in the country.
Corroborating, the National Coordinator of TELA Nigeria, Mr Yarama Ndirpaya, admitted that the high cost of seeds had contributed to the emergence of counterfeit TELA maize seeds in parts of Kano.
He disclosed that those behind the fake seeds had been apprehended and reported to the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC).
“We are partnering with local seed production companies to bridge the supply gap for the next farming season and reduce the price.
“Currently, about 2.8 tons of TELA Maize seeds have been produced for distribution,” Ndirpaya said.
He said the TELA Nigeria project was working closely with key stakeholders to ensure that Nigerian farmers have access to genuine, affordable TELA maize seeds ahead of the next planting season.
Earlier, Consultant Advisor, AATF, Nairobi, Dr Sylvester Oikeh, commended the IAR for its strong partnership and support towards advancing the TELA Maize project in Nigeria.
“We also came to appreciate IAR for its continued collaboration and technical support,” Oikeh said.
