News in brief:
– NIHORT released four new tomato and pepper varieties with higher yields, early maturity, and disease resistance.
– The improved cultivars aim to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on seed imports and increase farmers’ income nationwide.
The National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) has announced the release of four new high-yielding tomato and pepper varieties, a move aimed at boosting food security, improving farmers’ incomes, and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported vegetable seeds.
Speaking during the official announcement on April 15, 2025, the Executive Director of NIHORT, Prof. Mohammed Atanda, unveiled two tomato cultivars — HortiTom4 and HortiTom5 — and two yellow aromatic pepper cultivars — HortiPep1 and HortiPep2.
Atanda described the release as a direct response to the challenges faced by local farmers, including poor yields, low fruit quality, and vulnerability to disease outbreaks like bacterial wilt.
Higher yields, shorter maturity period
According to Prof. Atanda, the new tomato varieties significantly outperform existing ones in terms of yield and adaptability.
“HortiTom5 and HortiTom4 mature in 80 to 90 days and offer yields of 21.7 to 27.2 tons per hectare,” he said, noting that this marks a drastic improvement over the national average of 3.4 tons per hectare.
He added that the new varieties are adaptable to various ecological zones, including the rainforest, derived from Guinea, and the Sudan Savanna, making them viable across Nigeria.
Boosting Nigeria’s pepper market
Prof. Atanda also highlighted the potential economic value of the newly released aromatic pepper varieties, HortiPep1 and HortiPep2.
“Pepper is central to our culinary culture and a key income source for farmers. However, low yields, lack of quality seeds, and pest infestations have made cultivation risky,” he said.
The new pepper varieties are adapted to Nigeria’s growing conditions, making them an ideal option for boosting farmer profitability and ensuring a more reliable supply chain for processors and consumers.
NIHORT’s latest development is expected to help bridge the gap in vegetable production, improve livelihoods, and reduce the ₦45 billion spent annually on importing tomato paste and pepper-based products.
