Benue female farmers embrace new cowpea variety

Female farmers in Benue State are embracing the newly released FUAMPEA 5 (Alkam Super) cowpea variety for commercial cultivation, citing its high yield, short cooking time, large seed size and resilience to climate stress. The farmers expressed optimism during the 2026 Seeds and Inputs Fair organised by the Joint Implementation of the Legume Seed Systems […]

Female farmers in Benue State are embracing the newly released FUAMPEA 5 (Alkam Super) cowpea variety for commercial cultivation, citing its high yield, short cooking time, large seed size and resilience to climate stress.

The farmers expressed optimism during the 2026 Seeds and Inputs Fair organised by the Joint Implementation of the Legume Seed Systems Project of the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA-CGIAR), with support from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), in collaboration with seed companies and agro-dealers.

One of the farmers, Esther Bito, who has cultivated cowpea for seven years, said she would switch from the popular 40-day variety to the newly released Alkam Super this farming season.

“I have been farming the 40-day variety of cowpea, but this year, I will plant the new Alkam Super because of its quality,” she said.

Another farmer, Judith Agba, said cowpea farming had become an important source of income for her family, while also providing nutritious meals.

“I have been cultivating cowpea for three years now and the outcome has always been encouraging,” she said.

Pam Kadoon of Igbor community in Gwer East Local Government Area said she was also eager to cultivate the new variety after years of planting the 40-day cowpea. She said its short cooking time and sweet taste would make it more attractive to consumers.

The Benue State coordinator of the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), Veronica Guma, urged female farmers to preserve the improved seeds for cultivation rather than consumption.

She said, “The seeds are meant for planting, not eating. When properly cultivated, they will improve our income and food supply. Besides, the shorter cooking time helps us save firewood and cooking gas.”

Guma, who planted Alkam Super during the last farming season, said the variety produced an impressive harvest.

Speaking separately to Weekend Trust, many of the female farmers said they planned to expand their cultivation of the new variety for both commercial production and household consumption.

Earlier, the principal investigator and project coordinator, Dr Teryima Iorlamen, described FUAMPEA 5 (Alkam Super) as a climate-resilient, nutrient-dense and high-yielding cowpea variety developed to meet farmers’ preferences. He advised farmers in Benue south and Benue northwest senatorial districts to begin planting between August 29 and 30, while those in Benue northeast should commence planting from August 27 to achieve optimum yields.

According to him, the variety was developed after farmers requested larger seed size and better grain colour in previous cowpea varieties.

“This variety cooks in 25 to 35 minutes. It is high-yielding, climate-resilient and is already being commercialised by seed companies. We are distributing it free of charge to farmers to encourage adoption,” he said.

Iorlamen explained that although the variety tolerates short dry spells, farmers should protect harvested grains from insect infestation because of their sweetness.

He added that Alkam Super commands a premium market price because of its superior quality.

Also speaking, the Benue State chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Pastor Ernest Atoji, described the variety as a poverty-reduction tool capable of restoring soil fertility while generating higher income for farmers.

“I planted this variety last year and recorded an excellent harvest. It performs well, even on poor soils, and has great market potential,” he said.

Professor Felix Ugese of the College of Agronomy, JOSTUM, said although Benue had not traditionally been known for cowpea production, the university’s breeding programme had changed the narrative. He urged farmers to adopt quality seeds, stressing that improved varieties remain critical to achieving higher productivity and improving family nutrition.

The IITA Kano station manager, Dr Alpha Kamara, said the growing demand for Alkam Super showed that researchers were developing varieties that addressed farmers’ needs.

He urged scientists and breeders to maintain the purity of the seed to sustain its desirable qualities.

Esther Ibrahim, a project officer with AGRA, said the organisation was working to commercialise the newly developed cowpea varieties through strategic partnerships and awareness campaigns.

 

 

 

According to her, AGRA recently met with stakeholders and would soon convene another meeting with partners involved in developing the varieties to discuss strategies for their commercialisation.

 

 

 

“Our focus is on commercialising these varieties and creating awareness about them. Nigeria is a large country, so we are partnering with other stakeholders to reach more people and let them know that superior seed varieties are available to support food security and drive agricultural transformation,” she said.

 

 

 

Speaking on the significance of the new variety, Professor Lucky Omoigui, plant breeder and seed systems specialist at the IITA, who led the research team, said Alkam Super offered high yield, resistance to striga, large seed size and shorter cooking time.

 

 

 

Omoigui said the variety was developed through collaboration between JOSTUM and the IITA with funding support from AGRA, adding that its release had significantly increased farmers’ adoption and market acceptance of improved cowpea varieties across Nigeria.