By Alex Abutu
The introduction of genetic engineering in agriculture has tackled some of the long outstanding issues that had limited crop productivity in the past especially pest and disease control and made farmers smile to the bank in other climes.
In Nigeria, the introduction came 25 years after its debut, but it has proven to be as efficacious as it was in the USA, South Africa and other countries that deployed it even when anti-technology crusaders made series of attempt to discredit the technology and its benefits for our smallholder farmers.
In June 2021, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation in partnership with the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria released the Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea (PBRC) variety to farmers in Nigeria after 10 years of rigorous research works and national performance trials involving over 800 farmers.
This bean variety developed as the PBR Cowpea and registered as SAMPEA 20-T became the first genetically modified food crop to be released in the country.
The process that cumulated in the development and release of what is being celebrated as SAMPEA 20-T started in the year 2003, when a group of cowpea breeders and scientists from across the world met in Accra, Ghana under the auspices of the Network for the Genetic Improvement of Cowpea for Africa (NGICA) to deliberate on challenges facing cowpea productivity.
The scientists concluded that the biggest challenges confronting cowpea production on the continent was marucavitrata, a group of lepidoptera with pod-boring larvae. It is widespread in tropical areas, especially East and West Africa. As it constitutes the greatest impediment to cowpea production.
AATF therefore stepped forward based on its objectives of making life comfortable for the African smallholder farmers by negotiating and brokering a technology transfer agreement with then Monsanto to acquire the Bt gene on behalf of African smallholder farmers to save cowpea production.
This singular step has ripple effect on cowpea farming on the African continent because: Over 200 million Africans eat cowpea on daily basis and in different forms, cowpea farming serves as cash crop for African smallholder farmers and fodders from the production of cowpea serves as feeds for animals.
Nigerian bean farmers especially those in northern Nigeria where bulk of beans consumed in the country is produced are so excited for the release of the GM beans in the country and are grateful to be planting SAMPEA 20-T.
The farmers were surprised why it took scientists so long to develop such a variety that has the ability to resist MarucaVitrata, the most destructive pest that ravage beans on farmers’ field.
For the farmers, the variety is so good that it stood out clearly in three distinct areas and placed above any other variety they had planted in the past.
According to them, the variety has almost 30 percent yield advantage over other conventional counter parts, it does not require extensive (10) use of chemical or insecticidal sprays which farmers usually carry out in planting season, the highest number of sprays now is two and finally the variety can be planted twice or thrice in a planting season and its fodder remains green for a long time after harvest, making it a rich source for animal feed.
Farmers and extension workers in six northern states visited recently were full of praises for the variety. According to them, SAMPEA20-T is their delight as it makes cowpea farming more rewarding.
Mallam Sani Isa in Karaye Local Government Area of Kano State said he had been farming cowpea of different varieties for the last 35 years but in the last two seasons that he was introduced to SAMPEA 20-T variety by the Areas Agricultural Extension Agent, his joy knew no bounds due to the bumper harvest he experienced in the last two season.
“I have become a seed distributor to my fellow farmers. Every farmer in my neighbourhood wants this variety. I have not sold cowpea for over 10 years, but I started selling since last year due to the surplus I had. I reserved for my household of over 20 persons, and I sell the rest,” he said.
Hajiya Hawa, an aged farmer in Kano Municipal Local Government Area said after hearing about the launch of the variety on radio, she went in search of the seed and was able get about a kilo which she had been planting and replanting since then.
“I farm cowpea a lot, so when the news of the launch of SAMPEA 20-T was aired and my children called my attention to it, I quickly went in search of the seeds. Luckily for me I was able to get a kilo from one of the seed companies here in Kano. From the one kilo of seed, I have been able to plant and replant and I saved some against next planting season,” she added.
Mallam Mohammed Shehu, an extension worker in Kazarue Local Government Area of Jigawa State said he multiplied the SAMPEA 20-T seeds and sold to farmers.
