National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) has called on Nigerian farmers to embrace biotechnology as a safe, proven, and effective tool for increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring national food security.
Speaking during a Sensitisation Workshop on Biotechnology and Biosafety/Farmers Field Day held in Jagwada, Keffi, Nasarawa State, the Director of Agricultural Biotechnology at NBRDA, Dr. Rose Gidado, highlighted the success of the BT Cowpea variety in improving yields and reducing pest-related losses across farms in the country.
Dr. Gidado explained that the workshop was organised to educate farmers who have not yet accessed BT Cowpea seeds and to showcase the remarkable progress recorded by those already cultivating the improved variety.
“We are here to engage with farmers who have not yet had access to BT Cowpea and to demonstrate what is already on ground. Our farmer here, Emmanuel, has been growing the variety since 2023 and is now an outgrower for a seed company. He’s doing excellently well,” she said.
Approved for commercial release in 2019 by the National Variety Release Committee, the BT Cowpea was developed to resist the destructive Maruca pod borer pest. Dr. Gidado noted that the variety continues to perform exceptionally well, proving the technology’s reliability, environmental safety, and resilience.
“The technology is working. This variety matures early, is climate-smart, and significantly reduces pesticide use. That means fewer harmful residues in the grains,” she stated, adding that one of the farmers now exports his BT Cowpea to the United Kingdom, where it has passed all quality checks.
The NBRDA director also cautioned farmers against misinformation about genetically modified organisms (GMOs), emphasizing that biotechnology crops are safe for cultivation and consumption.
“Nigerian farmers should not run away from this technology. Don’t listen to rumor mongers. GMOs are safe. Look at this farm it’s full of life. You can see weeds, groundnuts, sorghum, insects, even ants. Everything is thriving,” she said.
Describing the BT Cowpea as a testimony of Nigerian scientific success, Dr. Gidado commended the collaboration between NBRDA and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) in promoting biotechnology awareness and outreach across farming communities.
“We are proud to be part of this success story. We are contributing to Nigeria’s food security and giving farmers access to quality, climate-resilient seeds,” she added.
One of the host farmers, Mr. Ogenomor Emmanuel, shared his impressive results cultivating BT Cowpea on his 7.7-hectare farm. Beginning with five hectares in 2023, he said he expanded his cultivation area due to the crop’s exceptional performance.
“For conventional cowpea, you spray pesticides seven to eight times, but with BT Cowpea, once every 15 days is enough. The difference in yield is massive,” he said.
According to him, while local cowpea varieties produce three to four bags per hectare, the BT Cowpea yields between 21 and 22 bags per hectare, representing a dramatic increase in productivity and income.
Emmanuel also noted the variety’s shorter cooking time and resilience.
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“It cooks in about 35 to 40 minutes, unlike the local beans that take up to three hours,” he explained.
Since October 2024, Emmanuel has been exporting BT Cowpea to buyers in the UK and the US, earning double what he would have made in local markets. He attributed the high demand to the grain’s purity and cleanliness, even during the rainy season.
“Some farmers said it’s impossible to have clean beans during the rainy season, but BT Cowpea has proven otherwise. It can even be planted two to three times a year—that’s how resilient it is,” he said, noting that he harvested 7.6 tons from five hectares in his first season.
Another participant, Master Balat Ishaya, a farmer from Kaduna State, described the workshop as a game-changer that could revolutionize farming if scaled across Nigeria.
“This workshop is an eye-opener. If such programs reach more rural communities, it will replace the primitive way of farming and boost productivity. More productivity means more development,” he said.
He emphasized that wider adoption of biotechnology could accelerate Nigeria’s journey toward food sufficiency and economic growth, noting that “a nation with enough food for its people is a nation on the path to prosperity.”
The NBRDA Sensitisation Workshop forms part of the agency’s ongoing national campaign to promote the safe adoption of biotechnology and biosafety practices.
It aims to empower farmers with innovative tools to improve yields, increase incomes, and strengthen Nigeria’s food system through science-driven agriculture.
