TELA Maize, PBR Cowpea Farmers Counts Gains Of Technology Application

Farmers that had access to the seeds of the Genetically Modified TELA maize and PBR cowpea in the country are counting the gains of applying the technology on their farmers.

 

The farmers interacted with journalist at the farmer’s field day at Kuje area council, in Nigeria’s capital city Abuja, organized by the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency in collaboration with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation.

 

They spoke on their experience with the technology since it was released to them for application and while answering some pertinent questions.

TELA MAIZE FARMER

 

Mr. Cyprian Edeh is a TELA maize farmer from Keffi Local Government of Nassarawa state in North Central Nigeria who ventured into farming after experiencing an economic downturn, he shared his experience with the conventional maize seeds and TELA maize variety.

 

Mr. Edeh said on hearing about the TELA maize variety in the news, he made contact with IAR in Zaria to get the seeds for his farm, which he did.

 

Telling his story, Mr. Edeh said when he got the seeds, he chose to plant towards the end of the 2024 rainy season and it came out well and he became the envy of other maize farmers, Edeh noted that even with the 3 weeks drought that had set in, the TELA maize withstood the shock of the change in weather.

 

“Even at this time. And all of a sudden, the three weeks drought that took place towards the end of July to somewhere august sets in.  And about this time, the maize was going to almost sixth week”

 “But from the look of things, there was no sign there was drought. But every other maize, which was planted, around me, about the same time, in fact, their case was in sorry state, they couldn’t take anything home”.

 

When asked to compare his yield from the TELA maize and the conventional one he previously planted, Mr. Edeh said he got 25 to 35 100kg bags from the conventional seeds while TELA maize gave him 42 bags.

 

“I’ve done other maize varieties that are good. But I used to get 25 bags, 32 to 35 bags. But the best, again, that could compete with this, but you need to treat Fall Armyworm and other things, could give me as much as 40 and about the same time”.

On the rumours making the rounds that weed does not grow where GMO crops are planted, Edeh debunked it stating that he used herbicide to control weed on his farm.

 

“There was grass in the farm, so I cleared it. And even after that, towards harvest, when the effect of the post-emergency herbicide has subsided, grass started emerging again. And if you go to that place now, you see some of the stumps are germinating that we’ll have to clear it for this year.

 

And when we are hoping to start, grasses would have engulfed the place that we’ll need to start treating the place afresh, preparatory for this year’s farming” He added.

 

PBR COWPEA FARMER

 

For Mrs. Judith Okpanachi a PBR cowpea farmer, in Gwagwalada Area Council of Nigeria’s capital, the experience has been a pleasing one as she has had bountiful harvest from her subsistent farming.

 

Okpanachi said she had to spray her farms with pesticide just thrice compared to about 8 or 6 sprays of pesticides as compared to the conventional cowpeas.

 

When asked if she noticed any changes in the soil where she cultivated the PBR cowpea she said planting PBR cowpea did not affect or change anything as she was still able to plant other crops.

 

According to Mrs. Okpanachi, she was a bit hesitant and skeptical when the technology was being introduced to her but after she tried it on a little potion of land at the initial stage and yielding bountifully she said she has no regrets adopting the technology.

DESMONTRATION FIELDS

 

During the inspection of one of the demonstration fields where TELA maize and PBR cowpea were planted alongside other crops and vegetables like hibiscus, okra and pumpkin to show that GM.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oyenike Oyeniyi