The Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM) formerly known as the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM) in Benue State has again blazed the trail with the signing of a non-exclusive varietal licencing agreement for its newly released cowpea with Value Seed Limited.
Daily Trust reports that the event was a historical moment for the agric university as it entered into a non-exclusive and non-transferrable agreement with the reputable leading seed company in Nigeria.
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The giant stride, which has added a new crop to the global biotech basket from Africa, was carried out by renowned plant breeders, Prof. Lucky O. Omogui, G Okeruo and M. F. Ishiyaku, from the university with financial support from the Kirkhouse Trust UK, in partnership with scientists from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
Other collaborating scientists who aided the development of the two cowpea hybrids include A. Y. Kamara, O. O. Olufajo, N. Iyorka, A. S. Shiabu, I. Lolarmen, R. Solomon, M. S. Ugbaa, and M. S. Timko.
A statement by the institution indicated that the agreement was consummated a few days ago in the presence of several agric stakeholders at the conference hall of Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA) in Abuja, facilitated by Syngenta Foundation and the New Market Lab.
The licenced seed was FUAMPEA 3, one of the 2022 newly approved, released and registered varieties by the National Variety Release Committee (NVRC), which was developed by the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi to enhance food security and improve farmers’ yield.
Our correspondent reports that the historical milestone came barely a year after President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law, the Plant Variety Protection Bill 2021, to create a window for the protection of plant varieties in Nigeria.
The law is aimed at providing recognition and proper remuneration for breeders/institutions that develop varieties and for improving agricultural productivity in Nigeria.
In his remarks, a seed system expert with IITA, Prof. Lucky Omoigui, appreciated Syngenta Foundation, SFSA, for facilitating the laudable project, noting that the licencing agreement is a huge accomplishment and the first of its kind since the signing of the new Plant Variety Protection Act.
Omoigui, while speaking on the Accelerated Varita Improvement Seed System delivery in Africa (AVISA) project, said, “First of all, let me go back to the talk about the AVISA project, which is funded by BMGF.
“The project is coordinated by three international research centres and works with diverse partners, including the national agricultural research partners, universities and the private sectors in the seven implementing countries in Africa with the objective of increasing productivity, profitability, resilience and marketability of nutritious grain legume (chickpea, cowpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, lentil, soybean) and cereal (sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet) crops grown in semi-arid and sub-humid dryland agro-ecologies of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
The national partners include the National Agricultural Research Institute in Nigeria and some selected universities. It is also in seven West African countries. “
He added, “IITA is one of the international partner centres that are leading the breeding in and the seed system components of the project and is partnering with the organisation as well as working with the University of Agriculture, Makurdi for the seed system component.
“AVISA’s aim is to consolidate on the gains made by other projects like Tropical Legume I, 11, 111 and Hope 2 among others.”
He thanked the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) for promoting the PVP Act which has been enacted into law to allow private breeders to develop a variety and congratulated FUAM and Value Seed for taking the bull by the horns to take variety to the next level.
He said this is the first time a university has developed a variety and is licenced to a private seed company in Nigeria.
“If you look at the improved cowpea varieties that have been developed and released in the last three decades in Nigeria, out of 28, this is the only one that has a brown, large seed size,” he added.
Omoigui further said the southern part of the country preferred cowpea with large, brown seed size, adding that IITA will continue to support, and promote the improved varieties coming from the CG and NAREs network to ensure that they get to the smallholders’ farmers to increase their yield, income and improve their livelihood.
Meanwhile, giving an overview of the licenced seed (FUAMPEA 3), a representative from the university, Dr Iorlamen Teryima, described the cowpea variety as unique with a potential yield of 2.5 t/ha, resistant to Striga, Alectra and tolerant to bacteria blight, Cercospora leaf spot among others.
Iolarmen said the qualities of the improved cowpea variety, FUAMPEA 3, had made the seed become a farmers’ delight.
Also at the event, Dr Philip Ojo, Director-General of the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), described the occasion as historic, as he highlighted the impact on the seed sector development in Nigeria.
The NASC Director General said; “The licencing is going to help to enrich the market with quality seeds and also help to promote robust research, among others.”
On his part, the Vice-Chancellor of JOSTUM, Prof. Richard Kimbir, while reacting to the development, said the joy of the university community knew no bounds over the laudable project.
The vice chancellor, who was represented by the bursar of the university, Mr Emmanuel Timothy Ayan, appreciated Prof. Omoigui for spearheading the project breeding team that developed the variety.
Also, the representative of the President of Value Seed Limited, Sir George Zangir, promised to deliver on the terms of the licencing agreement, while commending Syngenta Foundation for facilitating the programme.
“We are going to make this agreement attractive to the seed sector. I am passionate about it. I am happy that the National Agricultural Seed Council is here together with other development partners,” Zangir said.
Earlier, Gabriel Isaiah, the Country Manager of Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, who doubled as the facilitator, said the mission and mandate of the foundation were “to strengthen smallholder farming and food systems, catalyse market development and delivery of innovations, while building capacity across the public and private sectors.”
He added that the foundation is gradually changing the narrative to ensure that any variety developed by scientists gets to the smallholder farmers.
Also, a Uganda-born international legal specialist, Adron Naggayi, in her address spoke on the role of the New Market Lab (NML) on licensing as a strategy to commercialise public varieties.`