NIGERIA is currently running on 500,000 tons of cowpea (beans) production, as the country depends largely on importation of this crop to satisfy its growing population.
According to the FAO, the population of Nigeria, which is about 220 million will surge to 500 million by 2050, making it the third largest population in the world, after India and China.
The country is currently grappling with food production, it suffers low productivity as a result of factors such as climate, insecurity, and lack of technology.
There have been several efforts by Nigerian scientists and other stakeholders to address these challenges with technological adoption as the major priority.
Beans farmers in the country over the years have been traumatized by insect infestation, high cost of chemicals to control pests and poor-quality seeds that makes their efforts futile after harvest.
In the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, Scientists have developed a transgenic beans variety called Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) Cowpea that has the potential to withstand attacks from Pod Borer insects.
This singular breakthrough has put back smiles on the faces of Nigerian beans farmers who can now plant their crop, spray as little as they can and get the desired output after harvest.
Sani Abdul in Kano State, who has seen the performance of this beans variety in the farms of other farmers, said he has not seen a beans variety with such high yielding capacity.
Abdul, said by next planting season, it will be a festival of beans planting as he has assembled a group of beans farmers to embark on an aggressive planting of this new variety of cowpea.
He projected a bumper harvest from the investment, citing what he has seen on other farmers within the state.
I am projecting a lot of progress when I plant the beans next year. I have brought in many farmers that will join me to cultivate the beans next year, we will cultivate the crop in group, Abdul said.
This new beans variety is no doubt the missing link in beans production in the country. The PBR beans address some of the challenges the crop is facing, especially the yield capacity when compared with the conventional variety.
Aminu Dahiru, another beans farmer, who could not hide this joy, said the genetically modified beans variety exceeded his expectations after the harvest.
Dahiru, who was visibly elated, said despite him planting just 2 hectares, the harvest convinced that by next planting season, he would reap more as he had concluded plans to increase his hectarage.
The cowpea surprised me. When I planted it, I sprayed just little chemicals, because I was told it is insect-resistant. It was until I harvested that I understood that the beans have a high-yielding capacity.
My friends came and saw how big my harvest is. I will invest more next year, I will plant about 5 hectares because I want to make more money, Dahiru added.
One of the reasons why this beans variety was developed is to improve the livelihood of farmers in Nigeria. Some farmers have been frustrated out of their farms as a result of low yield.
Their return on investment is very low after they have spent on their farms as a result of poor-quality seed, insect and pest infestation and climatic conditions such as flood and drought.
Muazu Sani, an indigene of Kano State, said despite the dry spell recorded this year across the north, he was able to harvest 5 bags of beans from his farm.
He said the PBR cowpea performed beyond expectations despite the state recording very low rainfall during the last planting season.
However, Sani expressed optimism in the potency of the transgenic beans variety as he prepares to plant by next season in 2025.
The cowpea is very good and it is very different from the old variety, despite shortage of rainfall, I harvested about 5 bags from the two hectares of land. I am hopeful that I plant it by next year, he added.
Nigerian beans farmers are currently experiencing their best season with the new beans variety as they smile to the banks, their livelihoods improved and crop yield increasing.
There is the need for the government to invest in biotechnology because it has proven to be the answer to the challenges Nigerian agriculture is facing. With this, there will be an increase in the Gross Domestic Products, jobs will be created and livelihoods will be improved across the country.
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