Niger State, north-central Nigeria, is stepping up efforts to expand the adoption of improved maize varieties, promoting a TELA hybrid that researchers say can produce up to 9.4 tonnes per hectare while offering resistance to fall armyworm and tolerance to several crop diseases.
The Niger State Agricultural and Mechanisation Development Authority (NAMDA) showcased the variety, known as SAMMAZ 72T, during a field-day exercise in Minna on October 14, 2026. The event was designed to familiarise farmers with the hybrid, explain its agronomic requirements, and encourage wider adoption as Nigeria seeks to improve maize productivity and strengthen food security.
Abdullahi Ndafogi, NAMDA’s Deputy Director of Research, said the variety combines high yield potential with drought resistance and tolerance to pests. Hassana Garba, the authority’s Director of Extension, said the programme was intended to expand TELA maize cultivation, adding that SAMMAZ 72T had previously been grown through the Niger Foods Programme, where officials reported high yields.
SAMMAZ 72T is not a newly developed variety. It was among four TELA maize hybrids released for commercial production in Nigeria in 2024 through the country’s crop-variety registration process. The hybrids were developed through collaboration involving Nigeria’s Institute for Agricultural Research at Ahmadu Bello University, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), and other research partners.
The hybrid’s stated yield potential of 9.4 tonnes per hectare is based on its variety profile, rather than a guarantee of what farmers will harvest. Its performance will depend on factors including rainfall, soil fertility, planting time, weed management, fertiliser application and access to quality seed. The Institute for Agricultural Research identifies SAMMAZ 72T as suitable for Guinea and Sudan savannah ecologies, with a maturity period of approximately 100–110 days.
TELA maize technology is designed to address two important constraints in maize production: insect damage and drought stress. The insect-resistance trait targets fall armyworm, a pest that can cause substantial crop losses and force farmers to spend more on pesticides and field management. Drought tolerance is intended to help the crop withstand periods of limited water availability, although it does not make the maize immune to severe or prolonged drought.
Research on another TELA hybrid, SAMMAZ 75T, provides some evidence of the technology’s potential under Nigerian farming conditions. A 2025 study examining 134 plots across six states found that TELA maize averaged 5.85 tonnes per hectare, compared with 3.11 tonnes for non-TELA varieties. The researchers reported an 88 per cent yield advantage for the TELA plots. However, these findings relate to SAMMAZ 75T and should not be treated as a measured result for SAMMAZ 72T in Niger State.
The Minna event also featured 10 cowpea varieties for farmer assessment and possible adoption. NAMDA used the exercise to promote the use of quality seeds and good agronomic practices, alongside backyard gardening as a way to improve household food production.
For TELA maize to deliver wider benefits, farmers will need reliable access to certified seed, clear guidance on cultivation and effective extension services. Seed availability and affordability will be particularly important for smallholders who may be unable to absorb the cost of changing varieties without confidence in the likely returns.
NBF Insight
Niger State’s promotion of SAMMAZ 72T highlights the distinction between introducing improved seed technology and achieving higher productivity at scale. A variety with a high yield potential can help address low maize output, but the benefits depend on whether farmers can obtain the seed, follow recommended practices, and manage production risks.
The next step should be to measure results under local conditions. Reporting the number of farmers adopting SAMMAZ 72T, hectares planted, actual yields, pesticide use and net returns would provide a clearer picture of whether the variety is improving farm economics rather than simply increasing potential output.
For Nigeria, improved maize varieties can form part of a broader food-security strategy, but they cannot replace investment in seed systems, extension, soil fertility, irrigation and access to markets. The value of the TELA initiative will ultimately be determined by the yields and incomes farmers achieve in their fields.
