IAR ABU Chapter Acquires 38 Seed Varieties from China for Germplasm Testing and Adaptation

The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, has acquired a valuable collection of 38 seed varieties of diverse crops from China for germplasm testing and adaptation in Nigeria. 

This was contained in a report to the Vice-Chancellor on ABU participation at the 2025 China-Africa Innovation Cooperation and Development Forum held in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China from 17th - 21st November, 2025.

The report was prepared by the Executive Director, IAR, Prof Ado A Yusuf, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, at the forum. 

It highlighted strategic collaborations established and outlined significant benefits and opportunities for IAR and ABU as a whole. 

The seeds obtained are for vegetables and cereals. They include pepper, egg plant, Chinese cabbage, lettuce, gourd, zucchini, cucumber, pumpkin, carrot, tomato, sorghum, and maize. 

Prof Yusuf explained that the primary objective of germplasm testing was to screen and identify high-yielding, disease-resistant, and climate-resilient varieties for Nigerian soil and environmental conditions. 

The initiative, according to the IAR director, had the potential to directly enhance food security and diversify agricultural production in Nigeria. 

Prof Yusuf said, for instance, he successfully engaged at the forum five key China agric-based establishments for concrete partnerships with ABU, particularly the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR). 

The China agric-based establishments engaged for partnerships are China Farm (Wuhan) Good-Seed Technology Company and Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS). 

Others are Wuhan National Agricultural Innovation Centre, Hubei University, and Hubei Innovation and Technology Centre. 

The engagements, according to him, were poised to transition into formal collaborative research projects, capacity building, and technology transfer. 

The IAR director also said the forum, which brought together key stakeholders from Africa and China to foster partnerships in agricultural research and development, was "highly successful."

"The collaborations forged and the genetic materials acquired present a significant opportunity to bolster IAR's research portfolio, enhance crop productivity, and solidify our position as a leading agricultural research institute in Africa", he said. 

Some of the major activities Prof Yusuf participated at during the event include keynote presentations, signing of collaboration agreements, and institutional visits. 

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Public Affairs Directorate, 

Office of the Vice-Chancellor, 

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (NAM) 

Tuesday, 16th December, 2025