Cowpea farmers setting examples in Benue

Cowpea farmers in Benue State are setting examples to attract more people into their space. They are also making an additional income to improve their livelihood.

Our correspondent observed that more farmers are now cultivating cowpea to better their earnings, as well as boost the production of the crop in the state.

The current pull towards cowpea production in the state, however, followed 2016 release of FUMPEA 1 and 2 by the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The FUMPEA is an improved seed variety that enables farmers to produce brown or white cowpea with a sweeter taste.

Godwin Donko is one of such farmers in the state who have turned their seasons of hardship to fortune through cowpea, after seeking God’s direction through prayer.

Donko, a former chairman of Makurdi Local Government Area, faced some levels of difficulty in 2016 and subsequently launched into cowpea production in 2017.

“I am a politician who began to engage in farming after the hardship I faced in 2016. I started cowpea farming in 2017. I had prayed for direction from God before delving into farming. As a politician, I think it is also necessary to have another source of income,’’ he said.

Presently a special adviser in the Governor Samuel Ortom-led government, Donko continues to cultivate his five hectares of cowpea farm with exciting hopes to multiply seeds for more farmers to have access to quality seedlings.

He acquired a high-quality variety of seed from the Federal University of Agriculture in Makurdi, where his field is located.

Donko explained that he planted the institution’s Fumpea1 at the start of his farming project in 2017 at a small field and reaped 15 bags of 100kg cowpea, adding that in 2018, he moved to the present expanded farm and harvested 35 bags of 100kg, from which he made a lot of profit.

According to him, this year’s yield holds more prospects than previous ones because of the best agronomy care impacted on the farm, such that his expectation of a bumper harvest may rarely fail.

He noted that the exciting experience garnered over the past two years further spurred him to expand the field in 2019, such that he now expects to reap between 50 and 60 bags of cowpea from his five hectares of farm, along the Uniagric-Gbajimba road in Makurdi in three weeks.

Already, the politician said he had spent N400,000 on the farm, but hopeful that his profit would double the expenses made so far, considering that the yields would bring forth a bountiful harvest.

He disclosed that a 100kg bag of his cowpea was sold at N50,000 during the previous harvest, to farmers who were in dire need to plant same on their farms, adding that more farmers have booked for this year’s harvest.

“More farmers are patronising me. I picked interest in the quality seed from the university and I’m multiplying same on my field for farmers,’’ he added.

Donko, however, said the major challenge had been attacked on the plants by insects, but that the over two-year experience of cultivating cowpea had helped him, to the extent that he successfully fought against another attack on the crop this year with the right insecticide recommended by the university.

“We now expect a bumper harvest. FUAMPEA 1 is different from other local seeds. It is also tastier. I like the seed very much and have continued to cultivate it,’’ he said.

Also, Vitalis Tarnongu cultivated two hectares of improved cowpea seed farm this year. His company, Teryima Nigeria Limited, with out-growers of 147 hectares, field cuts across Makurdi, Guma and Gboko local government areas. His farms are doing well, according to him.

Tarnongu’s challenges are post-harvest losses, insect attack during storage, and the fact that most farmers still use rat killer tablets, which are poisonous to health.

He said, “There is an organic pesticide at our disposal, which can be used now. At present, we have a memorandum of understanding with the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi for commercial production. The university has released 50 hectares of land to us for the cultivation of cowpea, and we are currently working on it.

He added that the project would be aided by the agronomic expertise of Prof. Lucky Omoigui and Dr. TeryimaIorlamen whenever the needs of technical and professional services are required.

Tarnongu thinks that the government should assist the farmers in the area of training in modern cowpea production techniques, create public awareness on the preservation techniques to prevent post-harvest losses, while farmers should be trained on organic methods of preservation.

He further called for awareness on the availability of market for cowpea and assistance for the commercial production as the current production in the state are strictly for smallholder farmers as part of roles the government could play to boost production of cowpea in the state.

Meanwhile, Prof. Lucky Omoigui, a plant breeder in the College of Agronomy, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, who developed the FUAMPEA 1 in collaboration with the IITA, expressed satisfaction with the development of the cowpea in farms inspected.

In the past, Omoigui had said farmers rarely cultivated cowpea because there were no good seed varieties that could effectively standoff insect (maroca) attack. He, however, added that with the FUMPEA, the farmers are now happier and expanding their cowpea fields.

The plant breeder said the improved seeds were high yielding, of good quality and contain more proteins. He urged farmers to key into the project for commercial purposes, as well as to generate more income.

He expressed delight at Donko’s farm, noting that the effort of the farmer would strengthen the cowpea seed cell for further access to more farmers in the state. He advised farmers to stop the use of chemicals to store their harvest and emphasised on the need for them to use triple bagging for storage for the good of consumers.

Omoigui encouraged more individuals like Donko to engage in farming to earn a decent living and ensure food security for the state. He also appealed to the government to, at least, set up tractor services in all local government headquarters to attract youths into mechanised farming for the betterment of the citizenry.