- It'll make many people rich - Agronomist
Farmers in Benue State are now reaping the reward of their hard work as they enjoy a bountiful cowpea harvest from the crop they planted in the onset of the rainy season.
Our correspondent, who went around some farms at the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM), formerly Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi (FUAM), reports that harvest was going on in fields where early maturing cowpea seeds were cultivated.
Young women and men working as harvesters in some of the fields expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the harvest, pointing out that it was a huge success.
Among those working diligently in the fields were Sunday Comfort and Akama Joy.
Comfort said it was exciting being part of the harvest which such a good one, while Joy said it was not difficult reaping in the field because it was well managed from the beginning.
"No hassles working on this farm. It's so easy picking the cowpea pods and you can see that we have already reaped so much in the few hours that we have been here. The harvest is good and the field well-kept so there are no challenges harvesting the beans (cowpea) here," she said.
Comfort added that the dedicated workers like herself were paid between N10,000 and N12,000 each day for their efforts. She applauded the economic benefits that agricultural activities bring to the local community.
Azaigbo Nicholas, one of the farmers, expressed satisfaction with the challenges free harvesting encountered.
He said it had been an efficient and trouble-free harvesting experience which underscores the effectiveness of the farming practices employed and the favourable conditions during this rainy season.
Nicholas thinks that the successful cowpea harvest not only provides a source of income for local farmers and workers but also ensures a supply of the vital crop for both consumption and further agricultural use.
Madam Igoh, another farmer spoken to at the field expressed belief that as the harvest continues, the collective efforts of the farmers will contribute to food sustainability in this period of extreme hunger in the country.
"As this bumper cowpea harvest continues, it will reduce hunger in the land. Already, maize is being harvested and other food crops are now coming from the field bountifully so the common man will at least have food to eat, while farmers will equally have a boost to their income," she added.
The Head of SYNGENTA, Ghana/Nigeria, Akor Emmanuel, said the "60 days beans (cowpea) will make a lot of people rich in Benue if they adhere to agronomy practice."
He explained the cowpea planting season for improved seed to be May - July; July - September; and October - December.
Emmanuel added that the process begins with land preparation, then seed planting, pre- and post-weed management, insect and disease management and then the farmers are to watch out for harvest.
"We believe that the crop should be given opportunity to explore its full potential. We are working on a chemical to control weeds in legumes. Opportunity abounds in legume," he added.
The owner of one of the cowpea farms being harvested, Vitalis Tarnongu, narrated how he successfully embarked on the cowpea cultivation project recording impressive results. He said he focused on FUAMPEA1, an early-maturing variety of cowpea, which has a growth cycle of just 60 days.
This quick maturation allows Tarnongu to aim for three planting seasons in a year, with the potential to extend to four cycles annually if irrigation is utilised.
Tarnongu's farm spans two hectares, and he had high expectations for his yield which eventually turned out to be right as even the reapers testified on the harvest.
He, however, anticipates at the end of reaping, a harvest of 1.2 tons per hectare, translating to approximately 12 bags of cowpea per hectare.
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"With each 100kg bag of cowpea seeds now valued at nearly N350,000, I can confidently say making this a lucrative venture isn't a bad idea," he said.
Commenting on the cost of production, Tarnongu said he invested N350,000 per hectare, including labour costs, adding that the initial planting required 20 kg of seeds per hectare, with the price of cowpea seeds being N2,500 per kilogramme at the time of planting.
While cowpeas can be enjoyed as a grain, Tarnongu's primary objective is to produce planting seeds.
He added that, "These seeds will be multiplied for farmers to use in the next planting cycle, which is just two months away. This initiative not only supports my agricultural endeavours but also contributes to the broader farming community by providing high-quality seeds for future crops."
Tarnongu's project exemplifies the potential of modern agricultural practices and the impact of early-maturing crop varieties as his strategic approach to cultivation and seed multiplication sets a promising example for sustainable farming and agricultural entrepreneurship.
