Provost of the Samaru College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Usman Ibrahim said that modern farming technology holds the solution to Nigeria’s food security challenges.
He made this observation on the sidelines of the Brown Demo Field Day, where farmers witnessed the harvest of TELA maize, a high-yield hybrid developed with ECOBasic Seed.
The event drew over 100 farmers from local agrarian communities and was closely monitored by agricultural specialists and academics from ABU.
Ibrahim highlighted that Nigeria’s growing population demands innovative farming methods capable of supplying both domestic consumption and industrial raw materials.
The TELA maize, planted 70 days earlier at the end of the 2025 rainy season, demonstrated strong drought tolerance.
Prof. Ibrahim emphasized the importance of investing in agricultural education and urged the government to establish more colleges of agriculture to produce skilled professionals for modern farming.
“Achieving food security leaves no room for shortcuts. Farmers and stakeholders must adopt modern techniques and innovative ideas to reach the level of food sufficiency we aim for,” he said.
He explained that the hybrid maize variety combines high yields, pest resistance, and drought tolerance, all of which can enhance farmers’ earnings.
“Every farmer dreams of a bumper harvest. The results from TELA maize show that adopting hybrid seeds can transform both crop output and income,” Prof. Ibrahim added.
Assuring continued research, he noted that ABU “with more than 100 years of agricultural expertise” remains committed to exploring ways to strengthen national food production.
Also speaking at the event, Moses Atewogboye, Commercial Manager of ECOBasic Seed, representing Managing Director Brighton Karume, encouraged Nigerian farmers to embrace hybrid seeds, as is standard in leading food-producing nations.
He explained that the field day was organized to demonstrate the benefits of TELA maize and the value of integrating technology into farming.
“Nigeria, as Africa’s giant, must lead in agricultural innovation,” Atewogboye concluded.
