Cross River moves to cut crop losses with pest-resistant cowpea seeds

From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar

The Cross River State Government has moved to cut crop losses by cowpea farmers with a statewide distribution of improved pest-resistant to boost food security and farmers’ productivity.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Johnson Ebokpo, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Calabar.

According to the Commissioner, the Ministry will from Monday, September 21, 2026, begin the distribution of SAMPEA 20-T PBR cowpea seeds, developed by the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), to interested farmers across the state.

Ebokpo said SAMPEA 20-T is an improved variety developed through agricultural research with high genetic purity and proven resistance to Maruca vitrata, the major pod-borer pest that has long devastated cowpea farms in the country.

He explained that the variety is early maturing, high-yielding and requires less insecticide application compared to conventional susceptible varieties, thereby reducing cost for farmers and increasing returns.

“The intervention is aimed at increasing cowpea production, strengthening food security and improving access to nutritious food, particularly for women and children, while enhancing farmers’ productivity and livelihoods,” the Commissioner stated.

The distribution exercise, he added, will be carried out in collaboration with the State Chapters of the Cowpea Farmers Association and Women in Agriculture (WIA).

The Ministry has directed interested farmers to proceed to their respective Local Government Councils for documentation and collection of the improved seeds.

It further warned that farmers should adhere strictly to the designated collection arrangements, stressing that the seeds are solely for planting purposes and not for human consumption.

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