Abstract

Potato yields in Nigeria are among the lowest in the world due to the low availability of high-yielding, disease- resistant, and climate-resilient varieties. Additionally, there is a shortage of varieties that meet the market's processing profile. From 2022 to early 2023, on-station, multi-location, and on-farm trials were conducted by the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, in collaboration with the International Potato Centre (CIP), leading to the recommendation of CIP392797.22 (Unica), CIP393371.157 (Juriya), CIP393371.58 (Babban), and CIP398190.200 (Kyau) to the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) for registration and release for commercial use in Nigeria. NVRC accepted this recommendation at its June 2023 meeting. With a potential tuber yield of 44–45 tons per hectare, representing a 100% yield advantage over the check varieties, and their better resistance to late blight, bacterial wilt, and viruses, these varieties demonstrate significant potential for enhancing the Nigerian potato industry and meeting the diverse demands of consumers across various market segments. Their superior yield, disease resistance, nutritional composition, and organoleptic properties make them ideal for release as new potato varieties, contributing to the sustainability and growth of the potato sector in Nigeria.