SAMPEA 20-T a significant scientific, economic improvement in beans cultivation

Ene Okwanihe, Abuja

The Institute for Agricultural Research, (IAR) Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna state North West Nigeria, says the launch of the new Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) Cowpea Variety called SAMPEA 20-T is a significant scientific and economic achievement for the improvement of the production of Beans in Nigeria and it would save the country billions of Naira.

The Executive Director of IAR, Prof. Mohammad Ishiyaku, stated this at the launch/unveiling of the variety in Kano state North West Nigeria.

The country would be saving money from the excessive use of chemical insecticides by farmers in the country.

“The economic benefit of this variety ranges from the savings our country will make from the excessive use of chemical insecticides which are imported from abroad thereby saving for us foreign exchange. It is estimated that between seventeen to twenty-one Billion Naira will be saved annually from the reduction of use of chemicals insecticide in the production of Beans in our fields by planting this new variety instead of the non-resistant one”.

Prof. Ishiyaku who is the principal investigator for the Pod Borer Resistant project that bred the new variety said noted that the SAMPEA 20 -T has the ability to protect itself against the destructive effect of a Pod boring insect which has been known to cost up to 80% yield lost on farmer’s field.

“Additionally, this new variety has yield margin of between 15 to 25% compared to conventional varieties currently in cultivation by farmers. The total benefit from the yield increase from is SAMPEA 20-T is estimated to be 46 Billion Naira every year if one million Hectares of our land is grown to this variety,”

He called on government and the organised private sector to invest hugely in research, stressing that the result will significantly turn around Nigeria’s economy.

“This is one area were research has contributed immensely to the solving of food security problem. Cultivation of this new variety by our farmers will therefore reduce the cost Cowpea in our market which has skyrocketed in recent time. This will no doubt expand access to this protein-rich food material contributing to enhanced nutrition among our populace, especially in children”.

He commended African Agricultural Technological Foundation (AATF) for the logistical and financial support for the calumniation of around fifteen (15) years of scientific research leading to the development of the variety.

FARMERS ASSOCIATION

On its part, the All-Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) said about eight million Nigerian farmers and their families will benefit directly from cultivating the newly launched Pod Borer Resistant cowpea variety.

AFAN President, Arc. Kabiru Ibrahim said over 12.5 million hectares of land will be dedicated to the production of the new variety across Africa where many millions consume cowpea on daily basis.

“I understand that Nigeria is the first country in the world to commercialize this variety of cowpea and hitherto, yield losses of 70-80% are common place due to Pod-Borer infestation on cowpea but the development and release of SAMPEA 20-T completely mitigates this phenomenon,”

He urged farmers to embrace the variety and vigorously cultivate it to become prosperous as well as make Nigeria food sufficient.