Sep 04 2018, 12:59 PMSep 04 2018, 1:19 PMSeptember 04 2018, 12:59 PMSeptember 04 2018, 1:19 PM
New wheat varieties that are customized for the tropics are being planted by farmers in Nigeria , and could help cut imports, which cost $ 4.4bn annually , according to the country's agriculture ministry. Known as Reyna-28 and Norman Borlaug , the new strains have been developed by a government-owned agricultural research agency, and are said to yield more than triple the output of older varieties, according to PMSeptember . The country has cultivated more than 300,000 hectares, and looks to produce over one million tons per year. The ministry also aims to cut imported wheat shipments 60% by annually .