NIHORT’s Research Breakthroughs Boost Nigeria’s Agricultural Productivity and Farmer Incomes
Ibadan, Nigeria — The National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) continues to lead science-driven solutions within Nigeria’s agricultural sector by championing improved crop varieties that strengthen food security, enhance farmer incomes, and support sustainable horticultural value chains — a key objective for Arise Naija – Good News Site’s mission of news that moves Nigeria forward.
High-Yield Tomato & Pepper Varieties Set to Transform Farming
In a major recent development that is gaining traction across farming communities, NIHORT has unveiled new, high-yielding varieties of tomato and pepper that promise significantly higher production levels and wider adaptability across Nigeria’s diverse ecological zones. The institute’s Executive Director, Professor Mohammed Lawal Atanda, highlighted the importance of this breakthrough for food security and agricultural profitability. Farmers adopting the HortiTom4 and HortiTom5 tomato varieties can expect maturity in approximately 80–90 days with yield potentials of 21–27 tonnes per hectare, dramatically improving productivity compared with Nigeria’s national averages. These varieties are also well suited to rainforest, derived Guinea, and Sudan Savanna environments, making them ideal across a broad range of production zones.
Similarly, the HortiPep1 and HortiPep2 pepper cultivars offer quality traits and strong yield potential that help protect farmers against pest and disease pressures while supplying high-demand aromatic pepper varieties to markets.
This research outcome comes at a time when increased yields and pest resilience are critical to reducing producer risks, lowering market prices, and strengthening Nigeria’s horticulture sector from farm to marketplace.
Training Farmers on Newly Developed Crop Varieties
In continuation of its extension-oriented outreach, NIHORT recently trained 104 farmers in Oyo on the production and processing of HORTITOM tomato varieties, equipping them with practical skills to translate research innovations into on-farm success stories. The training — held in Oyo town, Oyo State — focused on improved agronomic practices, post-harvest handling, and value-adding processes that collectively increase farm incomes and promote sustainable livelihoods.
These training programs are part of NIHORT’s broader strategy to ensure that technological breakthroughs don’t remain confined to laboratories — but reach the smallholder farmers who feed Nigeria.
Impact on Food Security and Farmer Prosperity
NIHORT’s continuous development and dissemination of improved horticultural crop varieties underscore its role as a national driver of agricultural innovation and rural development. The new tomato and pepper varieties are expected to:
- Increase National Production: Higher yields help close supply gaps for staple vegetables such as tomato and pepper, which are central to Nigerian diets.
- Boost Farm Incomes: Access to improved, high-performing cultivars enables farmers to produce more marketable produce per hectare, increasing returns on investment and livelihood resilience.
- Enhance Market Competitiveness: Well-adapted varieties reduce losses from pests, diseases, and environmental stress — increasing the competitiveness of Nigerian horticultural products in domestic and regional markets.
These breakthroughs mirror national priorities for agricultural growth, rural employment, and food system sustainability — all critical for Nigeria’s economic transformation.
