Low cowpea Import Experience In Nigeria: NBRDA DG
Nigerians have experienced abundant availability of cowpea (beans) for over a year and significant reduction in its importation due to the effectiveness of the improved yield variety that was introduced about two years ago.
The Director General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency NBRDA stated this during the NBRDA day at the ongoing Science, Technology and Innovation Expo 2024
Prof Abdullahi said that the addition of the new Tela Maize variety would similarly change the narratives as a result of its improved seedlings and yields.
“Cowpea has been in the country now for almost two years that is why last year we didn’t hear anything like we are importing cowpea that is beans from either Ghana, Niger or Chad republic rather they are coming here to buy from us, which means we have surplus. So, with the Tela maize that is released now, it is going to happen like that, Next year, or the next two years we are going to be supplying all our neighboring countries”.
Prof Mustapha noted that the demand for maize is high in Nigeria and with the Tela maize, the deficit is going to be filled and with abundance of it to be sold to other countries.
On the Soybean research, the DG said that they are soon going to upload on that research which will transform the country’s economy.
He also said that the agency has developed a diagnostic test kid for covid which is a step to developing other test kids for testing in the hospitals.
“Which means we have indigenous technology that can provide all these necessary gadgets that we are going to use in our local hospitals, and it is going to be cheaper, more efficient and going to rhyme with our people, you know some of these equipment’s are from imported outside the country and specifically made for their people, and this test kit nis specifically made for people”.
Other achievements he highlighted includes vaccine developments, Lassa fever drug in clinical trial, biodigesters for electricity, gas and energy amongst others.
Prof Abdullahi acknowledged the minister of Innovation Science and Technology Uche Nnaji for giving full support and reminding of the administration’s agenda of food security.
The DG also revealed that the recent inclusion Research in the Agency’s name reflected the already existing activities of the agency where other neighboring African countries come in to learn about the activities of the agency.
The research mandate is fully now recognized as research agency, which means the agency will have more funding, more collaborators and more training of researchers so that we have one of the finest researchers in the world because as it is now, we have one of the finest researchers across Africa, but we are aiming to see one of the finest researchers in the world.
He revealed that the international conference on Biotechnology will be held in Nigeria where many countries in Africa and around the world had promised to attend.
He said the conference is an avenue for Nigeria them and Nigeria as well to showcase their products for the purpose of collaboration.
Highlight of the event was the tasting of various meals made from the improved crop varieties served to the attendants present.
Oyenike Oyeniyi
